ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION ORGANISATIONS of NZ Inc.
Level 2, 126 Vivian St, Wellington, New Zealand
PO Box 11-057, Wellington

Media Release – Thursday 5 May 2005

Carbon charge: Greater effort needed on climate change

ECO today welcomed the Government's announcement that it will introduce a carbon charge as a step in the right direction to deal with climate change.

“ECO is pleased the Government will introduce a small carbon charge in 2007,” said ECO spokesperson Clive Monds.

“It is an important step but the charge is only half the $30/tonne put forward by Environment Groups in the Vote for the Environment Charter prior to the 2002 election as a minimum goal for implementation by 2004. The charge will need to be increased to achieve more effective reductions in emissions,"

"New Zealanders have very high and inefficient use of energy. We need to use energy more efficiently and generate new electricity without creating greenhouse gas emissions. This carbon charge on climate-changing pollution is a welcome start, but more needs to be done." he said.

“The point of a carbon charge is to encourage people to modify their behaviour so that they use less fossil fuel and switch to renewable energy or use it more efficiently.”

The Government has so far only announced measures to drive energy efficiency in small and large businesses. Other measures are needed to promote energy efficiency in residential households.

“While we await a sustainable energy policy the government is driving in the opposite direction by pushing for large scale infrastructure development and environmentally harmful coal mining which will do nothing to limit New Zealand's impact on the climate," he said.

"ECO urges the Government to implement the carbon charge much earlier and calls on all political parties to support this small measure as an important first step action to deal with climate change."

ENDS

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