MPs broadly agree on lowcarbon society
THERE was a remarkable show of accord at a Dunedin meeting on moving to a low carbon society last night, even though those speaking came from across the political divide.
The meeting of about 50 people heard from members of the crossparty GlobeNZ, a group of 34 MPs from all seven political parties who have come together to work on climate change.
The three speaking last night were Green list MP and chairman of GlobeNZ Kennedy Graham, Labour’s David Parker and National MP for Kaikoura, Stuart Smith.
The Labour and National MPs broadly agreed on most aspects of what New Zealand needed to do to combat emissions, and a general collegial atmosphere prevailed, unexpected in an election year.
The meeting was billed as a presentation of the Vivid Economics Report produced for the group, but much of the time was spent considering what New Zealand could do to battle climate change.
Dr Graham ran the audience through the 2015 Paris agreement, the state of New Zealand’s emissions and the scenarios the Vivid report suggested.
He said the report concluded New Zealand needed substantial change to energy supply and use, to alter land use patterns, to use new technologies and begin afforestation.
He said the report, which came out in March, was ‘‘a superb document’’.
Mr Parker said if New Zealand could not put its house in order considering its wealth, levels of renewable energy and environmental ethic, ‘‘who in the world can?’’
‘‘The answer is noone; it’s that simple.’’
However, he was positive it could be done.
Mr Parker said half of New Zealand’s emissions came from methane produced in agriculture, and half from the likes of energy and transport.
The country was increasing its production of renewable energy, and could reach 90% renewable by 2025.
To deal with transport emissions, the country needed to move to electric vehicles.
Regulation of imports was needed to make that happen.
Agriculture was a more difficult challenge, with emissions from cattle and sheep difficult to stop.
The answer was a change to ‘‘high value land use’’, with more cropping and horticulture.
He said New Zealand had been through plenty of land use changes in the past, and would continue to do so in the future.
Mr Smith, a former New Zealand Winegrowers chairman, talked about the move to sustainability in the wine industry that had been done despite some opposition.
He said consumers were concerned about environmental issues when they bought products.
Both Mr Parker and Mr Smith agreed New Zealand should keep producing aluminium and steel, as it was made here with clean energy.
If it moved overseas, that would not be the case, and it would hurt the economy.