Minister for Creation of more Climate Change

Press release - April 22, 2009
John Key must reverse the decision to sacrifice conservation land and the climate for a coal mine, says Greenpeace.

Minister for Conservation and Climate Change Negotiations Tim Groser has just announced the Government is sacrificing part of the Oteake Conservation Park in North Otago for a lignite mine.

"Lignite is one of the worst fuels for causing climate change; no matter how you use it, it creates more emissions than any other fossil fuel," said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer.

"It's hard to think of a more environmentally irresponsible decision than to give up publicly owned conservation land for a dirty coal mine that will help accelerate climate change. It's also hard to think of a decision more out of step with where the rest of the world is heading on energy.

"The Minister for Climate Change negotiations has just sent a message to all other climate change negotiators around the world that New Zealand is not serious about tackling climate change. What's more, as Trade Minister, his decision has told all our trading partners that New Zealand's not serious about being clean and green either."

Boxer said it's clear that the government is getting ready to open up New Zealand's lignite reserves for energy, particularly in light of recent comments by Solid Energy head Don Elder (1).

"As predicted by delegates at a recent climate scientists conference in Copenhagen, New Zealand is fast on its way to becoming the 'Cuba of the South Pacific' - quaint, but with hopelessly outdated and inefficient technology (2).

Couple this with New Zealand's refusal to play ball at UN climate talks and it's not looking good for our standing internationally. (3)

Greenpeace is calling on the government to set an emission reduction target of 40 per cent by 2020.

Other contacts: Geoff Keey – Greenpeace Political Adviser – 021504 486 Kathy Cumming – Media and communications – 021 495 216

Notes: (1) http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/2352931/Decision-on-lignite-plan-soon (2) http://weblog.greenpeace.org.nz/climate-change/climate-consensus-clear/ (3) http://weblog.greenpeace.org.nz/tag/bonn/

Exp. contact date: 2010-11-18 00:00:00

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