30 August 2004
*Biofuels target step in right direction for climate change*
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*Auckland, Tuesday 30 August:* Greenpeace today welcomed the Government’s announcement on a mandatory sales target for
biofuels as a small step in the right direction.
“A target for 5% blended biodiesel and 3% ethanol blended petrol from biomass sources, while not ambitious, is an
urgently needed step in the right direction to tackle climate change,” said Greenpeace climate campaigner, Vanessa
Atkinson.
“New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing alarmingly and urgent steps are needed to get our emissions
headed in the opposite direction. Biofuels are a part of that solution but must be combined with improved public
transport systems and an overall energy strategy to phase out fossil fuels, prevent new coal-fired power stations like
Marsden B, boost renewable energy like wind and increase energy efficiency.”
“New Zealand is currently reviewing its climate change policies and assessing how it will approach discussions at the
first official Kyoto Protocol meeting in December where the shape of the future agreements will begin.
It is vital that New Zealand supports steps internationally to slow climate change and takes steps at home to curb
emissions from the electricity, transport and agricultural sectors towards a low carbon economy. A sales target for
biofuels is a step on that path,” concluded Atkinson.
ENDS