Shaw on tightrope across fossil fuels
James Shaw says as Greens leader he’s opposed to new fossil fuel extraction, but as climate change minister he would simply ‘‘advise against it’’.
The Green Party sought Treasury advice during coalition talks on the cost to the New Zealand economy of halting all new coal mines and offshore oil drilling projects.
Treasury estimated the cost to the economy would come in at $15 billion.
The Greens ended up in a confidence and supply agreement supporting the Labour-led Government, with two of their MPs ending up as ministers out of Cabinet – including Shaw.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday her Government would honour existing contracts and look at each new project on a ‘‘case-by-case’’ basis.
‘‘Our future isn’t in fossil fuels,’’ Ardern said, but indicated a transition could take some time.
Shaw said the Green Party had a longstanding policy to rule out all new fossil fuel extraction projects – but his position as climate change minister was slightly different.
‘‘As Green Party leader I have always said that we shouldn’t be opening up any new fossil fuels.
‘‘As minister for climate change I have to say that in the future if you are going to get to a zero carbon economy there will be a point at which it is simply incongruous to be issuing those,’’ Shaw said.
Asked point blank how he would respond as climate change minister when new applications for coal mines or oil drilling came in, Shaw said he would ‘‘advise against it’’.
The Cabinet manual dictates that all minsters – even those outside of Cabinet – must support the full Government’s position on matters relating to their portfolio.
Ardern said yesterday that from time to time it was natural for coalition partners to hold slightly different views from the full Government.
‘‘Individual parties will continue to have their views, that’s what MMP and MMP governments are all about it. Together we then formulate a plan going forward, and I can tell you where we have absolute consensus is the view that we need to reach a carbon neutral status by 2050.’’
The Government has set a target to make the country carbonneutral by 2050 with a Zero Carbon Act, following consultation in 2018.
National Party climate change spokesman Todd Muller said existing contracts would have to be honoured.
‘‘This is a long-term transition. These things can’t be rushed, you’ve got to take people with you. You’ve got to provide communities with the opportunity to adjust and be successful as a community through that transition,’’ he said.
He wanted to hear more detail about the Zero Carbon Act before deciding whether to support it.