Press release - August 30, 2005
Greenpeace today welcomed the Government’s announcement on a mandatory sales target for biofuels as a small step in the right direction.
"A target for 5% blended biodiesel and 3% ethanol blended petrol
from biomass sources, while not ambitious, is an urgently needed
step in the right direction to tackle climate change," said
Greenpeace climate campaigner, Vanessa Atkinson.
"New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing
alarmingly and urgent steps are needed to get our emissions headed
in the opposite direction. Biofuels are a part of that solution but
must be combined with improved public transport systems and an
overall energy strategy to phase out fossil fuels, prevent new
coal-fired power stations like Marsden B, boost renewable energy
like wind and increase energy efficiency."
"New Zealand is currently reviewing its climate change policies
and assessing how it will approach discussions at the first
official Kyoto Protocol meeting in December where the shape of the
future agreements will begin. It is vital that New Zealand supports
steps internationally to slow climate change and takes steps at
home to curb emissions from the electricity, transport and
agricultural sectors towards a low carbon economy. A sales target
for biofuels is a step on that path," concluded Atkinson.