Climate Change

UnitedFuture does not pretend to be able to predict precisely all the consequences or outcomes of climate change, but through the growing scientific and economic evidence we understand the risks and the need for a timely response.

Climate change is a global challenge that through international and domestic cooperation can be managed to mitigate the risks whilst, in a New Zealand context, presenting a range of opportunities for environmental sustainability and social and economic development.

It is UnitedFuture’s opinion that the benefits of responsible and practical action now will be realised in the long-term health and prosperity of New Zealand’s environment and its people.

The environment is our basic life support system and must remain in good health. If people want to use the environment for outdoor recreation, economic development, or to simply admire and appreciate it, then it must be used in ways that do not cause permanent widespread damage or compromise the needs of future generations to meet their own needs – i.e. in ways that are sustainable.

Policy Framework

  • UnitedFuture will promote “no regrets” policies to address climate change – i.e. measures that will provide both environmental and economic benefits.
  • UnitedFuture will seek solutions that offer positive alternatives to otherwise punitive measures e.g. rather than just a carbon tax on coal used to generate electricity (and higher costs for consumers), sequester the carbon or encourage the generator to plant a new forest.
  • UnitedFuture will promote both public and private climate change initiatives e.g. working with the banks to finance home insulation and retro-fitting.
  • UnitedFuture will support the creation of CO2 emissions trading mechanisms to provide economic incentives to reduce greenhouse gases and boost carbon capture and other greenhouse gas reduction/mitigation efforts whilst continuing to oppose a general carbon tax.

Householders

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Continue to promote energy efficient homes and technology via the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
  • Continue to fund EECA for a comprehensive nationwide programme of retro-fitting existing homes with energy saving improvements (including better insulation, low-flow shower heads, solar water heating etc).
  • Require all existing dwellings sold to be assessed for energy efficiency (e.g. insulation, double glazing, heating methods, and use of solar energy) and given a standardised energy efficiency rating.
  • Require all new homes to be given a standardised energy efficiency rating based on insulation, double-glazing, heating methods, use of solar energy etc.
  • Require all flats and rental properties to be advertised as to whether or not they are insulated. This will help tenants make an informed choice and will incentivise landlords to improve the insulation and energy efficiency of their properties.

Transport

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Implement policies to reduce the average age of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet, thereby reducing average fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. (For example, instigate a minimum payment by the Government for every older vehicle with a WOF that is taken off the road and dropped off at a ‘wrecker’ for disposal.)
  • Encourage and mandate ethanol and other bio-fuel alternatives to petroleum based fuels as long as the supply of such alternatives is both environmentally and economically sustainable.
  • Substantially boost investment in research and development for alternative energy systems and technologies (including hydrogen, ethanol and other biofuels) .
  • Support the creation of CO2 emissions trading and emissions reduction mechanisms, provided these result in positive climate change outcomes for New Zealand.

Forestry and Agriculture

Forestry and agriculture are of fundamental importance to climate change policy. The planting of new trees has the potential, over time, to move New Zealand to a position of carbon neutrality whilst methane emissions from ruminant animals greatly increase our Kyoto obligations even although they are the result of a natural digestive process rather than a result of human activity.

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Support the Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative. While creating an opportunity for further carbon sinks, the trees will also prevent soil erosion, the leaching of nitrates and the intrusion of stock into rural waterways.
  • Promote the planting of native trees and bush along or close by all inland waterways where practical, in order to act as carbon sinks, limit soil erosion and reduce agricultural runoff.
  • Encourage landowners to return non-viable farming land to native forest in order to create carbon sinks.
  • Require the internalisation of all greenhouse gas costs when forested areas are converted to intensive agriculture. For example where forested land is converted to dairy farming the landowner would bear the Kyoto costs arising from the loss of the carbon sink, rather than leave those costs to the taxpayer.
  • Defer final income tax on income derived from forestry until harvest where partly grown trees are sold. When partly grown trees are sold the seller will be assessed income tax in the usual way. However, an amount equivalent to the income tax paid by the seller will be paid to the buyer by way of a forest encouragement grant.
  • Ensure that New Zealand producers of sustainably-harvested timber products are not undercut via the “dumping” of imported timber and products that have been harvested without regard to sustainability criteria.
  • Commencing immediately, carbon credits will be devolved to forest owners when a new or replacement plantation is planted. This will cover both the replanting of existing forests and new “green field” forests.
  • Any carbon debits arising on the harvesting of those forests will also be devolved to the forest owners. Hopefully, post 2012, that debit will be scientifically assessed to take into account carbon “permanently” stored in the wood produced from harvested trees and also carbon which remains “captured” in the tree root system and the like. Recipients of carbon credits would then be responsible for repaying at harvest, only the actual net carbon liability arising under the post 2012 Kyoto protocol arrangements. Replanting, on the same or alternative land, would however release a stream of carbon credits as a new rotation is commenced.
  • As an alternative to 1 & 2 above forest owners may opt for a single one-time afforestation grant. This will be based on the forecast discounted value of the net carbon credits arising over the first rotation cycle of the forest.
  • Support the investment which is being made in scientific research by both the Government and the agricultural sector, in respect of methane emissions from ruminant animals.
  • Farmers will need to bear the cost of other green house gas emissions arising from their activities. However farmers will be able to offset these non-ruminant animal emissions, by planting trees, on their own property or elsewhere (thus gaining offsetting carbon credits).

Industry

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Remove regulatory barriers, including legislative barriers to encourage new electricity generation using hydro, geothermal, wind and tide, where economically sustainable.
  • Make EECA the central funding agency for contestable funding programmes aimed at reducing long term energy consumption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
  • Boost research and development funding through GNS Science for carbon sequestration from thermal electricity generating plants.
  • Support CO2 emissions trading mechanisms to provide economic incentives to reduce greenhouse gases and boost carbon capture and other greenhouse gas reduction/mitigation efforts whilst continuing to oppose a general carbon tax.

International

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Ensure that New Zealand plays its part as a responsible international citizen with regard to the Kyoto Protocol and subsequent international agreements, through the “no regrets” approach, set out above.
  • Consider joining other multilateral international efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. e.g. The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate that includes the United States, Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea.
  • Support the rationale behind NZ meeting its Kyoto objectives and while NZ should contribute towards achieving those we will not support measures that seek to meet our Kyoto obligations in ways that will reduce New Zealand’s international competitiveness.
  • In addition to attempts to limit greenhouse gases, thought should be given to a humanitarian resettlement plan. Countries in the Pacific region such as the Tokelaus, Tuvalu and Kiribati are all likely to disappear in the likely event of a rise in sea levels.
  • It is prudent to prepare a robust contingency plan of resettlement to cater for the thousands who will be physically displaced by such an occurrence. New Zealand should play a full part in this plan in cooperation with other nations in our region.

Emissions Trading

UnitedFuture supports CO2 emissions trading mechanisms to provide economic incentives to reduce greenhouse gases and boost carbon capture. We expect that a whole range of market mechanisms will make the buying and selling of carbon credits possible under a variety of scenarios.

Kyoto Protocol Changes

UnitedFuture believes that New Zealand should advocate for changes to the current Kyoto protocol rules at the end of the first commitment period in 2012. Specifically it is UnitedFuture policy to:

  • Question the continued inclusion of methane emissions from ruminant animals within the protocol rules, since this is a naturally occurring part of a digestive process.
  • Advocate, together with other forest growing nations, for an alteration to the current rules to reduce debits arising following the harvesting of trees to take account of the amount of carbon which is stored in wood products or in the stump and roots.
  • Advocate for a deforestation allowance in New Zealand’s overall targets.