"As if we needed another one, we now have a very serious
reminder that our environment is in peril," said Greenpeace
Campaign Director Carmen Gravatt. "All political parties must
explain how they intend to reverse these trends."
Among the most concerning issues in the 2008 State of the
Environment Report are rising greenhouse gas emissions, the
collapse of many key fisheries and the massive environmental impact
of agriculture on the land and climate.
"Our per-capita greenhouse emissions are amongst the worst in
the world, nore New Zealand fisheries are overfished since the last
State of the Environment Report and fish stocks that were then very
healthy are now in strife.
"In her state of the nation address yesterday, the Prime
Minister said 'New Zealand is increasingly recognised for its
willingness to front the environmental sustainability challenge' -
reports like the one released today make a mockery of these sorts
of statements," said Ms Gravatt.
"Consumers around the world are becoming increasingly concerned
with the environmental integrity of products, and our exporters
should be doing everything they can to corner and monopolize this
high end of the market. But New Zealand is currently claiming to be
something it's not on the world stage. If we don't act fast our
"clean green" reputation will be revealed as a farce, and our
economy will suffer as a result."
Ms Gravatt said the government needed to crack down on
agriculture. "The rise and rise of industrial, large-scale dairying
has had a major impact on the environment.
"Agriculture accounts for half of all New Zealand's greenhouse
gas emissions, these emissions are rising, and agricultural
production is becoming less efficient compared to other countries.
Yet agriculture is currently exempt from the Emission Trading
Scheme until 2013. This is unacceptable.
"Agriculture must be brought under the scheme earlier, so that
the farming sector can start taking responsibility for its cost to
the environment. In the meantime the rate of dairying conversion
must be addressed and the sector must work on sustainability across
the board.
"Our own surveys show that New Zealanders care deeply about
climate change, and they are looking for leaders who'll help
address the challenge. To date, we've seen more slogan and rhetoric
than real solutions from most politicians.
"We need to start paying sustainability more than lip service in
New Zealand. Slogans won't save our rivers, marine life or the
climate."
All political parties must:
1) Put in place an emissions reduction target of 30 per cent
below 1990 levels by 2020.
The single most glaring omission from the current Government's
package of climate change response measures is an overall
greenhouse gas reduction target. Targets in themselves will not
stop climate change, but they do set the scene for what needs to be
achieved, and give a clear signal to policy makers that they should
formulate policies with the long term in mind, and policies that
are capable of achieving the targets set. Countries that are
serious about taking a leadership position on climate change have
set national targets as a demonstration of good faith. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified a range of
25-40% reductions by 2020 for developed countries.
2) Commit to bring agriculture in under the Emissions Trading
Scheme earlier than the scheduled 2013. As well, agriculture must
not be subsidised with free permits to pollute; rather emission
permits should be auctioned and the revenue generated invested in
equipping New Zealand to more effectively address climate
change.
3) Address the current rate of conversion to dairying.
4) Legislate for 30 and 40 per cent of New Zealand waters to be
protected as marine reserves.
5) Put in place a comprehensive overarching marine protection
policy to ensure oceans are protected from exploitative
activities.
6) Ensure all decisions made around catch limits and fisheries
management are made in accordance with the internationally accepted
"precautionary principle".
Other contacts: Carmen Gravatt: (Greenpeace Campaign Director) - 021 302 251
Kathy Cumming (Greenpeace Communications) – 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2008-03-04 00:00:00