Nick Smith26 July, 2009
- New reports released today on the economic
and forestry aspects of climate change policy
will help inform Government decisions on
New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target and
policy on emissions trading, Climate Change
Minister Nick Smith says.
“We’ve got significant
decisions to make on New Zealand’s 2020
target and on emissions trading that will
have major environmental and economic consequences
for many years to come.
Key conclusions from
the NZIER-Infometrics report on the macro-economic
impacts of climate change policy are that:
Costs range from $600,
$1000, $1400 to $3000 per capita per year
for 2020 emissions targets ranging from
+15%, 0%, -15% to -40% relative to 11000
levels
Costs are significantly
greater if there is no international trading
Costs are reduced by
between a third and half if there is consistent
action by other countries
New Zealand’s Gross
Domestic Product continues to grow under
all options.
“We need to be upfront
with New Zealanders that climate change
poses real risks and that addressing it
comes with costs that this report helps
quantify.
“The report highlights
that getting too far ahead of other countries
escalates the cost to New Zealand. The Government
is also conscious that if we slip too far
behind international efforts we damage our
clean, green reputation and may put our
export market access at risk.
Dr Smith also released
the first data from the Land Use Carbon
Analysis System (LUCAS) that reports on
New Zealand’s forested area using satellite
imagery.
“The Government has
been cautious over New Zealand’s Kyoto balance
and future targets because of the billion
dollar plus variations each year in the
estimates of forest areas. This satellite
data is good news in that it accurately
confirms the area of post-1989 forests as
sufficient to offset New Zealand’s increase
in emissions and meet our Kyoto obligations
in the first commitment period from 2008-2012.
“These reports, alongside
the public submissions that close this week
on the 2020 target, will help ensure the
Government makes a balanced and well-informed
decision on climate change policy.”
The Government will
announce its 2020 target prior to the next
international climate change negotiations
in Bonn, Germany on 10 August.
For a copy of the LUCAS report please go
to:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/stakeholder-progress-report/
+ More
Public meeting details
for Mapua report released
Nick Smith29 July, 2009
- Environment Minister Nick Smith today
confirmed details of a public meeting to
be held in Mapua on 31 July where residents
will find out results of key reports into
the state of a former contaminated site.
"Mapua was New
Zealand's worst contaminated site. This
public meeting marks an important milestone
in confirming the extent to which the clean
up has been successful and to let the people
of Mapua get on with their lives."
Dr Smith says the final
audit report and the dilapidation report
on the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company
site will be released at the Mapua Boat
Club at 4.30pm. The meeting will be chaired
by Tasman-West Coast MP Chris Auchinvole.
"I will be presenting
the reports along with officials from the
Ministry for the Environment, including
the Chief Executive Dr Paul Reynolds.
"We will be available
to answer residents' questions and provide
details of how the Ministry is going to
implement the site auditor's recommendations
and provide on-going support to Tasman District
Council in monitoring the site.
"The author of
the site audit report will also be on hand
to answer any technical queries and a representative
of the Nelson-Marlborough District Health
Board will be available to give an update
on the status of the health report.
"This clean up
has been a difficult saga particularly for
the Mapua community. I want to be completely
open with Mapua on how successful the clean
up has been and what on-going monitoring
will be required. I openly acknowledge that
errors have been made and I am determined
the Ministry will learn from these mistakes."
The reports will
be available to the public at the start
of the meeting.
