21 August 2009

Workable approach to climate change
 

The New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) support the Government’s approach to carbon emission reductions.  The initiative led by Tim Groser to promote a global research effort to reduce agricultural emissions combined with a realistic emission target sets New Zealand on the right track.

NZMEA Chief Executive John Walley says, “Science and technology targeted at reducing emissions and increasing carbon sinks in the primary sector is the key to relatively painless reductions in net carbon emissions; ongoing support for research in this area is vital.”

“Given that our emissions have continued to rise since 1990, and will continue to rise into the immediate future, even reductions to 1990 levels will hurt. Let’s face it they have to hurt if our behaviour is to change.”

“Reductions to below 1990 levels will hurt a lot and reductions to 40% below 1990 levels have the capacity to stop our economy.  That level of reduction is about equal to the entire greenhouse gas emissions of the primary sector – imagine New Zealand without a primary sector, or alternatively, all other emitting activities.”

“At a practical level carbon is a trade issue. New Zealand will need to take action on climate change to maintain access to global markets.  To balance trade we must follow the US lead and restrict trade from jurisdictions who do not match our carbon reduction efforts.  From a climate change perspective nothing is changed by imposing carbon costs on our economy only to see the activity transferred elsewhere to avoid those carbon costs; we must continue to encourage our trading partners to be part of the process.”

 
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