Hon Nick Smith
National Party Climate Change Spokesman

27 February 2007

Chainsaw massacre bad for climate change

MAF figures showing record high rates of deforestation are a climate change disaster, says National’s Climate Change spokesman Nick Smith.

“This chainsaw massacre indicates the worst phase of deforestation since World War II.

“It shows the Government’s climate change policies are failing.

“It is just not credible for Helen Clark to be boasting about a carbon neutral Treasury that will save two tonnes of atmosphere pollution per day, when these figures amount to 22,000 tonnes per day of additional greenhouse gases.

“It is desperation for the Forestry Minister, Jim Anderton, to be talking of Government intervention.

“He does not seem to understand that it is his Government’s policy proposals of a deforestation cap, new tax and refusing to allow carbon credits that is causing these awful figures.

“This Government is part of the problem and not the solution, as shown by their awful track record.

“They keep reverting to punitive measures against foresters rather than vesting business confidence in the sector.

“These deforestation figures must be reversed.

“National would abandon the deforestation tax and cap.

“We would replace these with a tradable emissions permit system that would enable a financial return for capturing carbon. We would also provide Government assistance for new plantings on erosion-risk hill country.”

Ends

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