Key speech signals highly desirable convergence

13 May 2007

Media Release

Key speech signals highly desirable convergence of main parties' climate change policies

National's climate change announcements today shows the policies of most major parties are now converging which is good news for both New Zealand and business.

The convergence on climate change policy is welcome because with wide cross party support we are less likely is to suffer from policy lurches.

"Climate change requires a 60 year policy, not a three yearly approach, so we need to get it right, have wide cross party buy-in and start as soon as possible."

"Business will now have the confidence to invest and manage climate change with wide cross-party policy support now in place," the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, Peter Neilson, says.

Mr Neilson says a highly desirable policy convergence is now occurring on the need to cap and trade emissions, covering all sectors, something the vast majority of New Zealanders wanted.

Moves to ensure low emission energy developments went through the resource consent process more quickly would also help the country boost its renewable and low-emission power sources.

Mr Neilson, whose organisations' 56 member companies' annual sales equate to more than 30% of gross domestic product, says climate change policy can also be highly popular if governments take bold measures that the public understand.

These include incentives to insulate houses and cash grants to buyers of fuel efficient, low emission vehicles.

These policies were now in place in the UK and Canada and some states in the United States.

"Our polling shows widespread and major backing for policies like these among current supporters for all New Zealand's political parties," Mr Neilson says.

"The country needs a solid one-in, all-in approach to tackling climate change. That's why it's so significant that all sectors will be required to contribute to reducing their emissions over time, consistent with not harming our trading position."

ENDS

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