WWF welcomes Green Party Climate Protection Plan

WWF today welcomed the Green Party’s Climate Protection Plan, calling it an important statement of intent.o

Responding to the policy package announced today by Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman, WWF Head of Policy Peter Hardstaff said,

“This package of measures has the potential to set New Zealand on the path to becoming a low carbon economy. It is an important statement of intent and one which we call on other political parties to follow. How we can achieve a climate safe future is an issue that should be front and centre for us all in this election.”

The policy package comprises over 20 measures including a carbon tax with recycled revenue to help households, creating 5 year carbon budgets and a climate change committee to advise on how to meet them, providing low cost loans for solar installation, prioritising public transport, walking and cycling in the transport budget, introducing fuel economy standards for imported vehicles and incentives for biofuel development.

Mr Hardstaff continued,

“The Green Party has recognised that, while a price on carbon is important, it is also essential to implement it in fair way and to complement it with a range of other policies that can help achieve reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

“A clean energy future for New Zealand is 100% possible but it will not happen without action from government. It is not good enough to set targets and then sit back and hope for the best. We need a government that is prepared to implement policies that can help New Zealand transition to being a low carbon economy.”
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