Government subsiding costly damming project another backwards step for economy

Auckland, 9th May 2011: Today’s announcement that the Government is considering a $400 million dollar subsidy for the stalled South Island damming project to irrigate and expand intensive dairy is a sign that the Government has an economic strategy completely out of step with the direction of the rest of the world.

“The Government strategy to woo the fossil fuel industry and allow risky deep sea oil drilling, dirty coal mining and a planned $400 million dollar subsidy to dam our rivers for irrigation and expand intensive dairying flies in the face of a world acting on climate change. The Government is playing Russian Roulette with our international clean, green reputation and ultimately our economy,” said Simon Boxer, Greenpeace New Zealand Climate Campaigner.

“The Government should instead develop economic and energy strategies that grow New Zealand’s clean energy sector and invest in home grown technologies and sustainable businesses that benefit the economy now and in the future,” said Boxer.

The Government’s climate change initiatives have been under the international spotlight recently with the UN review panel finding that New Zealand’s 20 per cent by 2020 emissions reduction target has no plan for meeting two-thirds of the cuts required. The UN also expressed great concern about the ETS and the uncertainties about the inclusion of major greenhouse gas-emitting sectors like agriculture.

“The world, including some of our major trading partners, wants to do business with countries that provide technologies and know-how that creates low emission clean industries and economies,” said Boxer.

“John Key needs to get serious about sustainable economic growth that benefits all New Zealanders by learning from countries like Denmark that are reaping the financial rewards of investing in clean technology which also created tens of thousands of jobs,” concluded Boxer.

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