Charles Chauvel
Spokesperson on Climate Change
25 March 2009 Media Statement
Labour will work with Government to “free it” from ACT’s climate change extremists
Labour will work constructively with the Government to reconfigure the Emissions Trading Scheme and on
environmentally-friendly measures to stimulate the economy, but National has been captured by extremists in the ACT
Party, says Labour climate change spokesperson Charles Chauvel.
Speaking at today’s Conferenz Climate Change Summit in Wellington, Charles Chauvel said Labour is convinced, along with
most New Zealanders and most reputable scientists, that climate change “is a clear and present problem.
“Thanks to (Prime Minister) John Key’s failure to lead, and his surrender to climate change extremists in and with the
ACT Party, there is no prospect that National’s promise of passing an amended ETS within nine months of taking office
will be kept,” Charles Chauvel said.
There were real risks to New Zealand’s international reputation by being seen to be “backtracking” on climate change
issues, he said. “We are reliant on outward trade in goods and inbound trade in services and tourism for our continued
prosperity.
“It should be obvious that we cannot afford to buck the climate change trend when Australia, Japan, United States and
the EU have already or are moving toward domestic ETS arrangements bolstered by strong complementary measures,” Charles
Chauvel said.
“We cannot afford to delay our ETS by another year or two. And we cannot afford to continue rescinding complementary
measures designed to cut carbon emissions, and simply rely on the recession to reduce our greenhouse gas output, which
seems to be the National Government’s plan.”
Charles Chauvel said the national survey, published by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development this
week, showed overwhelming
Support for Labour’s view that the Government needed to be decisive now.
“We are saddened so much of what we put in place before last November has been dismantled in less than five months, and
are gravely concerned that no further backsliding occurs for simply ideological reasons,” Charles Chauvel said.
“The Policy Brief for a Global Green New Deal, developed by economists and the UN ahead of the G-20 meeting of world
leaders next month, highlights the benefits of investing stimulus packages in areas like the energy efficiency of old
and new buildings, the development of renewable energies, sustainable transport and agriculture, and in the planet’s
ecological infrastructure.
“Sadly, John Key has been captured by extremists, and now he talks about being flexible and being able to adjust if the
science firms up. Well, the science is already firm. John Key is pandering to the lowest common denominator, but Labour
is prepared to work constructively to help free the Government from its apparent dependence on the climate change
deniers associated with ACT.”
ENDS