Dunne – Royal Society confirms need for robust legislation

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United Future
Since: 2007-08-08 10:30:45.829588
Posts: 220

Dunne – Royal Society confirms need for robust legislation

Posted at 2008-08-05 08:56:19.088. Permalink.

The statement today by the Royal Society of New Zealand’s expert committee on climate has emphasised the need for legislation that will stand the test of time, said UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne.

“The Royal Society report highlights the fact that climate change is a long-term issue that will be with us for the rest of this century and beyond,” said Mr Dunne.

“The key for New Zealand is to come up with a robust emissions trading scheme that will endure through the changing political winds of our democracy.”

“UnitedFuture has indicated that we will not support the current Emissions Trading Bill before the House.”

“While we agree with the principle of emissions trading legislation as a means to address climate change, we do not believe the Bill as written will provide the durable framework required to deal with New Zealand’s international climate change commitments.”

“It is essential that we design a scheme that has political buy-in from both major parties and is acceptable to all sectors and industries.”

“The debate over climate change and its human-induced causes is over; however the equally important debate over the best means of dealing with it may have only just begun,” said Mr Dunne. Read the full text of this article.

Judith C
Since: 2008-08-05 08:28:33.888
Posts: 1

Posted at 2008-08-05 08:56:19.128. Permalink.

It has been a long time coming but finally NZ's politicions accept that we need to do something about the way we are damaging the environment and increasing global warming unnaturally through a disgustingly high emission rate of climate changing greenhouse gasses. NZ is the third or fourth highest emitter of GHG's in the world per head of population.
I believe UF are trying to sidle up to the Nats by not supporting the ETS. We have to do something NOW, there has been time enough for talk and debate and the sooner legislation is passed, the sooner it can be "tweaked" to become a very effective tool to reduce NZ's carbon footprint. The average household in NZ is FAR TOO EXTRAVAGANT WITH OUR NATURAL RESOURCES!
We as a family of 6 had a monthly power bill of around $120 - and we did not go without or become too hot in summer or too cold in winter. The two older boys both moved out earlier this year and our average power bill is now around $75. One only needs to apply the advice one gets from media, schools discussion with friends and family to know what uses the most electricity and how to conserve.
This can be applied through everything we do as families or households. Education and/or training and assistance with learning how to conserve and use what we have wisely is the answer to helping the "poor"! not stopping the ETS (if that is in fact what you do want to see put in place to help reduce GHG emissions?)
This country needs to focus more on being sustainable and not on making more money! for big business, or "growing the economy" or increasing our population or any of the other "growth strategies" politions seem to want to inflict on this small group of Pacific islands.
Ya can't eat or drink money or people, only nature can nurture us - IT IS TIME WE STARTED TO NURTURE NATURE.
God have mercy on you and all his children, young and old.
Wake up and smell fresh air, not greenhouse gasses!

peter dunne
Since: 2008-05-28 21:33:29.649
Posts: 32

Posted at 2008-08-05 12:36:55.547. Permalink.

I can assure you of two things:

1. There is no doubt about climate change, and we want the best p[ossible option for New Zealand as a response to it.
2. We are not trying to siddle up to National on this issue. Like the rest of New Zealand, we have no idea what their policy is.

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