OECD pressures NZ to lift game on climate
Auckland, 5 April 2007 — Greenpeace today called on the New Zealand Government to heed OECD calls released today for the
country to adopt a "clear and comprehensive package of climate change policy measures".
"This latest call from the OECD Environmental Performance Review, is an embarrassment for New Zealand and demonstrates
just how behind the game New Zealand is on addressing climate change – the greatest challenge facing the planet," said
Greenpeace climate campaigner Vanessa Atkinson.
The OECD recommends that New Zealand develop a comprehensive climate change policy package and ensure that the
"agricultural sector reduces it greenhouse gas emissions".
"Clearly, no climate polluting sector can be exempt from action on climate change and that includes the agricultural
sector as well as transport and energy emissions, which have also sparked concern from the OECD," said Atkinson
The report is critical of New Zealand's dumping of its climate change policy package in 2005, including the carbon
charge and warns that the country has very little experience in using the Kyoto flexible mechanisms (such as carbon
credits and the Clean Development Mechanism), which New Zealand is likely to need to meet its Kyoto targets.
It also highlights that the greenhouse gas intensity of the New Zealand economy is fourth highest in the OECD, that
greenhouse pollution has climbed since 1996 and points to a worrying trend of increasing carbon intensity in our
electricity system.
"New Zealand is going in the wrong direction on climate change and this latest warning from the international community
puts further pressure on the Government to get it right on climate change and get it right fast," said Ms Atkinson.
"The Government must put a price on greenhouse gas pollution across the economy by 2008, establish targets to reduce
greenhouse pollution by 30 per cent by 2020, aim for 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025, phase out existing coal
stations like Huntly and put in place policies to encourage renewable energy such as a guaranteed pricing scheme, as
well as energy efficiency and public transport," concluded Ms Atkinson.
The Greenpeace report New Zealand Energy Revolution: How to prevent climate chaos, released in February, demonstrates
how New Zealand can reduce its greenhouse pollution in the energy sector without damaging the economy.
ENDS