Climate plan spurs alarm

Proposed emission reduction measures put forward by the Climate Change Commission will impact South Taranaki hard, the district’s mayor has warned.

Phil Nixon has signed a letter to accompany a submission from the South Taranaki District Council (STDC) in response to the commission’s draft package of recommendations to the Government on transitioning away from fossil fuels by 2050.

The proposals include limits on oil and gas production, forestry, agriculture, and banning conventional car imports.

South Taranaki would suffer because of its lack of public transport and reliance on oil, gas, heavy manufacturing and agriculture.

‘‘To successfully achieve an equitable and just transition and align with the decreasing trajectory of emissions, the council will need significant funding and resourcing from Central Government,’’ the letter said.

Most of the CCC recommendations on transport are focused on urbanised areas rather than rural areas like South Taranaki, where residents relied on private vehicles, another of the commission’s targets.

‘‘Decarbonising our transport networks will be much more difficult than in urbanised areas, and we will need significant government funding, support and new transport infrastructure to achieve this,’’ the letter said.

As well, the district’s residents have a large variability in income, access to health services, and infrastructure, and Ma¯ ori are significantly overrepresented in deprivation statistics.

At its meeting yesterday, the council’s policy and strategy committee approved the submission being sent to the Climate Change Commission.

Councillor Mark Bellringer questioned the draft plan, given that New Zealand produced just 0.15 per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions.

‘‘I don’t know how New Zealand is going to afford this policy, let alone contribute to the world’s dilemma as we are now. I don’t think we should be supporting these recommendations.’’

Environment and sustainability manager Rebecca Martin said although New Zealand was a very small contributor, it was important to take action along with its trading partners.

‘‘If we don’t get our emissions down, we are in very real danger of not being able to trade with countries like the United States, China, India and the EU within the next five years. There’s a much bigger picture.’’

Deputy mayor Rob Northcott said the council’s Long Term Plan consultation document, which was signed off by an extraordinary council meeting yesterday, also contained a commitment to sustainability that was ‘‘pretty broadly in line’’ with the proposals.

Councillor Diana Reid agreed. ‘‘We want to do it for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, despite our small size.’’

The Taranaki Regional Council has also made a submission to the CCC, which is expected to submit its final report to the Government on May 31.