Nats would end offshore oil and gas ban
The National Party has reaffirmed that if elected to Government it will repeal the offshore oil and gas exploration ban, introduced by the Labour-NZ FirstGreen Government in 2018.
National’s energy spokesperson, Stuart Smith, further hashed out the National Party’s approach to climate change in the energy sector, during a speech to the Energy Trusts of New Zealand and the Waipa Networks Association in Cambridge yesterday.
Climate has been a politically difficult area for the National Party for years.
The party supports the international instruments New Zealand has signed up to, but disagrees with many of the Government’s measures to help deal with it – especially in the energy sector.
Oil and gas that is exported and burnt overseas does not count towards New Zealand’s emissions profile, although emissions expended in the production of it is.
The Government has argued that regardless of the accounting, New Zealand should not be exploring for offshore fossil fuels.
In the energy space, Smith argued that New Zealand’s 100% renewable target was costly, delivered few emissions gains and that gas should continue to be a part of the mix.
‘‘Gas will be part of the solution to deliver net zero.
‘‘We need it to secure our electricity system and to keep energy affordable.
‘‘That is why National has committed to restarting offshore oil and gas exploration.’’
In the speech that canvassed energy problems in Europe, but did not mention the war in Ukraine, Smith made the case for New Zealand moving carefully on a pathway to renewable energy, and balancing the need to reach carbon net-zero by 2050 in an affordable manner.
‘‘National is committed to achieving carbon net-zero by 2050,’’ Smith said in his speech.
‘‘But we recognise that an ambitious goal like that can only be achieved in a way that is fair to everyone and doesn’t impoverish us all.’’
National is also concerned that climate change is being put ahead of energy security and affordability, after blackouts in 2021 and high demand for power during this winter.
‘‘Energy and climate change policies must work together and be based on realism,’’ Smith said.