Climate Change developments cause for concern

International Climate Change Developments Should Give Government Cause for Concern

Reports from Australia about a planned delay in implementing an emissions trading regime until 2012, and the setback overnight in the United States for the Climate Change Bill should give our Government further cause for concern about pressing ahead with New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme on 1 July according to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

“We are not advocating a do nothing approach, rather we want to move in concert with our major trading partners,” said Chamber CEO Charles Finny.

“Right now our three largest trading partners have no policy comparable to that which New Zealand is proposing to introduce. This means that New Zealand exporters will face increased costs which our trading partners will not.

“Our higher than desirable exchange rate and now the Government imposed costs of the proposed ETS risk the competitiveness of the New Zealand export sector. This is a real concern to the Chamber of Commerce and should be a concern to all businesses.

“We hope that these latest developments give rise to a further review of the New Zealand position by Prime Minister Key and his Government,” Mr. Finny concluded.

ENDS

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