New Zealand to be the first Carbon Neutral country?
This press release came from Beyond Zero Emissions,
Prime Minister Helen Clarke is setting the direction for a realigning of
the NZ economy to Carbon Neutrality. New Zealand is taking the lead to
be the first country to be net zero emissions across all sectors..
The New Zealand Government is in the process of developing a series of
targets, the first of which is that 6 of it's 34 own agencies will be
Carbon neutral by 2012.
"New Zealand is targeting all key sectors of their economy and are going
to reduce their emissions to near zero emissions and then offset the
rest, at the same time the Australian government, representing some of
the biggest polluting industries in the world such as BHP and Rio Tinto,
can't even agree to the 108% increase on 1990 levels. that we would be
bound to under the Kyoto agreement, which is the biggest concession
given to any industrialised country." said Matthew Wright Beyond Zero
Emissions Campaigner.
(Read on, and check the references at the end).
On the back of the Prime Ministers stated policy position Contact Energy
supplier of 25% of New Zealand's energy, has announced it will at least
delay if not cancel it's already consented carbon-producing, gas-fired,
400MW Otahuhu C power plant by at least 18 months. Contact
subsequently followed up this announcement with a commitment to develop2
Billion dollars worth of wind power and geothermal resource.
"As soon as the New Zealand government stated their position, the debate
shifted and now we've seen some real positive response from industry.
One large energy company is moving strategy, resources and capital away
from a carbon producing energy infrastructure and towards renewables."
If this was done in Australia then we'd see the same result." said
Adrian Whitehead BZE lead campaigner.
Meridien Energy NZ's largest electricity producer has certified it's
entire electricity product net Zero emissions by doing a full audit,
reducing remaining emissions to near zero and then offsetting what's
left.
"This is more than an electricity company just having a green option,
this is a company that only sells carbon neutral electricity and it's
the biggest in New Zealand." said Mr Whitehead.
"In New Zealand you've got the Labour Government saying they'll go
carbon neutral. In Australia you've got the now disgraced former
Environment minister holding up wind projects with bogus excuses, Labor
governments and the Federal Labor opposition committing to waste more
and more billions on unproven clean coal technologies, and you've even
got the Australian Greens political party touting weak targets for
Greenhouse reductions.
"I'd like to see the Australian Greens come out in front and set the
national Agenda."
"I'd like the Greens to call for near Zero emissions by 2020 with a
complete phase out of coal mining for the energy sector by 2020"
"Jobs will be easily transferred into the renewables sector with any
remaining jobs to be targeted for reskilling, retraining and ongoing
employment subsidies." said Mr Wright.
"As for the effect of the Export earnings, quick action by the
government to create value across the economy utilising the intellectual
capacity of our nation will cushion us against the effects of the
downscaling of the 25 Billion dollars in dirty money we bring in each
year." said Mr Wright.
"New Zealand took the lead when it was the first in the world to give
the vote to women, and Australia followed suit soon after, it's now time
we do the same on going Zero Emissions and beyond across all sectors of
our economy." said Mr Wright
References:
Meridiean has certified carbon neutral electricity
Public Service Takes Lead Becoming Carbon Neutral
David Parker, Energy/Climate Change Minister - Sustainability and the
electricity sector
Contact issues sustainable energy challenge to Govt goal (and their release)
Why Zero Emissions Now #1 (Before 2020)
Why Zero Emissions Now #2 (Before 2020)
For comment ring: Adrian Whitehead - 0403 735 118 Matthew Wright -
0421 616 733
Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.
Posted by admin at March 5, 2007 7:30 PM
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Comments
My understanding is that COSTA RICA, in Central America, is the FIRST country that has declared its total commitment to become the First Carbon-Neutral country by 2021, in celebration of its 200 years of Independence. ("C-Neutral" is a trademark already registered for this purpose). After this announcement, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the Vatican are aiming at the same. Costa Rica is hosting in February 2008 a summit of these countries represented by their Ministers of the Environment (or equivalent) to discuss the new "green-alliance". The main important outcome of all of this is that the countries are COMMITED to be Carbon Neutral and set examples for other countries in the world to follow.
Posted by: Elda ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mitra.biz/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 27, 2007 12:46 AM