Hon Dr Nick Smith MP
National Party Climate Change Spokesman

7 September 2007

Clark’s record on climate change undermines NZ credibility at APEC

It is a bit rich for Helen Clark to be telling other countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions when they are growing like there is no tomorrow at home, says National’s Climate Change Spokesman Nick Smith.

“New Zealand’s emissions have grown by 12% since Helen Clark became Prime Minister. This compares to Australia’s increase of 8%, 4% in the United States, and 2% in Japan, over the same period.

“Her record is the 18th worst in the OECD, and just makes a joke of her talk of carbon neutrality.

“Helen Clark cannot be seen as credible in discussions about climate change because Labour set a target to reduce emissions by 20% by 2005, but then in Government have increased them by 12%.

“New Zealand’s record is particularly poor on forestry, where for the first time in fifty years significant deforestation is occurring with the loss of 40,000 hectares, or 32 million trees.

“New Zealand’s energy record is also embarrassing. Our proportion of renewable power has dropped to an all time low, and during the term of this Government power generated from coal has trebled, from 4% to 12%.

“Helen Clark cannot expect to be taken seriously on climate change at APEC when Labour’s record at home is so awful”.

ENDS

Attached: Emissions, forestry and coal graphs (PDF)

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