New Zealand Should Exit Kyoto Altogether

Conservative Party Leader Colin Craig has responded to National’s announcement regarding the ETS.

“Delays by National still amount to the same thing. In the long run our agricultural and business sectors are set to suffer substantially under the Kyoto agreement.”

“The Conservative Party offers the only real alternative, which is to withdraw from our obligations under the Kyoto agreement altogether,” says Mr Craig.

“Canada, under the leadership of the Canadian Conservative Party has withdrawn from Kyoto, and we should follow suit,” he says.

“This is a case of prioritising our national interests. There is no point in penalising our farmers who are already the most efficient producers in the world. It just doesn’t make sense”

“While we support the ambition of improved air quality, we do not believe the ETS will achieve this.”

“If we are going to talk about international action, then let’s get serious about the real causes. Large producers such as China need to be lobbied, rather than making free trade agreements with them.”

“The ETS is simply a rod for our own backs. New Zealanders deserve better,” says Mr Craig.

“Our households are currently being asked to pay more for energy and fuel, when these payments make absolutely no difference to global emissions.”

"The only difference between the National party position and the green party position is a matter of a few years, probably one election” says Mr Craig.

“The difference between both of them and the Conservative Party is that we would exit from both the Emissions Trading Scheme and the Kyoto agreement.”

“We are interested in taking action that genuinely improves the environment, but certainly not interested in reducing New Zealanders financial wellbeing as a token gesture” Mr Craig says.

ENDS

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