Greenpeace says the decision by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to reprioritise future transport budgets, away from walking, cycling and public transport, in order to pay for Cyclone Gabrielle road reconstruction, is short-sighted in the time of the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cRobbing money from climate mitigation initiatives like walking and cycling, which reduce emissions, in order to fix up climate-related storm damage makes no sense,\u201d says Greenpeace campaigner Christine Rose.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThis shouldn\u2019t be an either-or situation. Yes, we need to get access back for cyclone-hit areas. But why would you finance that by cancelling plans for a transport system that cuts climate emissions that otherwise intensify the storms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The Labour Government\u2019s Transport Minister Michael Wood yesterday announced plans to prioritise climate change in the Government Policy Statement review, which sets the high level direction for spending over the next five years.<\/p>\n\n
However, less than a day later, after Monday\u2019s Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister stepped away from this commitment.<\/p>\n\n
Mr Hipkins argued that the response to Cyclone Gabrielle required reprioritisation to repair bridges and roads rather than to support public transport, walking and cycling.<\/p>\n\n
Transport is New Zealand\u2019s second biggest climate polluter after the agriculture industry.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cCyclone Gabrielle was a tragic reminder that the climate crisis is here. The Government must pull all the stops to prevent storms like this from getting worse in future. And that means putting a brake on climate pollution.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThis is the time the Government should instead be accelerating climate solutions like clean transport options. By distancing himself from Jacinda Ardern\u2019s commitment to climate change, Hipkins is aligning himself with reactionary pro-road lobbies,\u201d says Rose.<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace says damage to roads, bridges and infrastructure shows how vulnerable the transport network is to climate change. Building more roads isn\u2019t a long-term solution.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to reinvent our transport system so it prioritises people and freight, not cars, and mitigates climate change as well as adapting to the new climate reality,\u201d says Rose. <\/p>\n\n
Rose says if Mr Hipkins claims there\u2019s no money to pay for reconstruction – perhaps he should consider the fact that the biggest climate polluter, Fonterra – is paying nothing for its methane emissions.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIf the Government doesn\u2019t take the lead during the climate crisis, to allocate spending for climate solutions, then it\u2019s the wrong government for our times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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