Energy Strategy needs changing to protect climate

The Government should urgently revise the Energy Strategy so that it genuinely addresses decarbonising New Zealand’s energy production and use, the Environment and Conservation Organisations (ECO) said today.

ECO was responding to the release by the Coal Action Network of the apparently near final government Energy Strategy and National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy.

Environmental and Conservation Organisations co-chair Cath Wallace, says the strategy should be amended to promote the measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On the contrary the current strategy has far too much emphasis on oil and gas exploration and coal development. “The strategy alarmingly includes a reference to the exploitation of marine methane hydrates and lignite: both are disastrous ideas.”

“The Government should adopt a strategy that moves New Zealand towards a low carbon economy and actually reduces our greenhouse gas emissions.”

“New Zealand needs to urgently move away from its reliance on fossil fuels including oil and coal.”

Ms Wallace said the Government has an opportunity to get ahead of our trading partners with investment in renewables and energy efficiency. “Going down the extractive path leads New Zealand on an outmoded high carbon development track delaying the regearing of the economy.”

“The ongoing danger of climate change, including sea level rise, species and ecosystem collapse, health effects, and ocean acidification, meant New Zealand and other countries need to adopt strong measures to reduce our dependence on fossils fuels and to promote renewable alternatives.

“Only last week climate scientists gave a stark warning of the potential for increasing greenhouse gas levels to cause adverse “surprises” to our climate and the economy.

Ms Wallace noted that the recently released 2010 International Energy Agency (IEA) review recommended measures “to facilitate the emergence of a low-carbon economy.”

The IEA was critical of the absence from the draft New Zealand policy of “firm actions” to achieve the measures in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. The IEA recommended “priority to enhance energy efficiency in the transport, commercial buildings and industry sectors”.

Ms Wallace said there are no strategies on how to get to the strategy’s 90 percent renewable target or the 10-20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2020 or the 50 percent reduction by 2050. “New Zealand stood to pay dearly for this failure in the future.”

Notes:
1. ECO – the Environment and Conservation Organisations was established in 1972 and represents 67 groups with a concern for the environment.

2. The Government’s Energy Strategy and the legally required Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy were released by the Coal Action Network on Sunday. Copies of the combined document can be found at http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/nz-energy-strategy-nzeecs-v12-21-march-11-1.pdf

3. Energy use makes up 45 percent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. In the last 20 years greenhouse gas emissions from electricity has risen 91 percent and transport has risen 51 percent.

4. The International Energy Agency (IEA) 2010 review of the New Zealand’s energy policy (released on 28 March 2011) recommended that the Energy Strategy “should include clear priorities and identify firm actions needed to meet them.”

5. The 2010 IEA Review also recommended that the “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and give priority to enhancing energy efficiency in the transport, commercial buildings and industry sectors by defining clear objectives for the sector supported by adequate cost-effective measures and long-term investments. The strategy should also include a detailed roadmap towards achieving the government’s 90% target for renewable electricity.

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