Dr Paul Hutchison
National Science Spokesperson
18th October 2002
Uncertainty still surrounds Kyoto
The Government's Kyoto announcement asks more questions than it answers, says National's Science Spokesperson Dr Paul
Hutchison.
"It is incredible that the Government is pushing ahead with ratifying the Kyoto Protocol when there is a lack of
understanding of the impacts for New Zealand, and even the Government admits "there remains no real consensus on what
the nature of the response should be."
Dr Hutchison, who sat on the Select Committee considering the Climate Change Response Bill, says National supports the
need to reduce man-made emissions from fossil fuels but that early ratification of the Kyoto Protocol is not the way to
go about it.
"There are numerous small and medium sized businesses throughout the country who have little idea how the carbon taxes
will impact on them. A glasshouse company in Port Waikato with a turnover of $45 million are deeply concerned that they
cannot engage with the Government, and remain in the dark as to how Kyoto will affect them.
"By ratifying ahead of our major trading partners, like Australia and the US, the Government is giving foreign
industries an advantage over New Zealand firms. The special negotiated agreements with the Government to stop production
moving overseas will only apply to a small number of large firms.
"Agriculture is excluded from the first commitment period, while the rest of New Zealand industry is stuck with the tax.
"The Government has toned down the powers of entry for inspectors onto New Zealand farms, but there is still no legal
opinion from the Attorney-General on whether the modified provisions contravene the Bill of Rights. Professor Joseph of
Canterbury University called the original provisions "state-sanctioned trespass."
"The Government should defer ratification until it has properly determined the effects on the New Zealand economy and
environment, and until our major trading partners come on-board as well," said Dr Hutchison.
Ends