By NZBCSD
Posted on Aug. 7, 2009. Listed in:
Almost half of New Zealanders want the Government to set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% or more by 2020.
They also want a larger more ambitious target set if the world’s big emitting countries agree to cut their emissions at December’s Copenhagen negotiations, and a majority wants the National, Labour and Green parties to make a deal to implement an emissions trading scheme (ETS) for the long term.
The Government is indicating it will propose an emission cut target of about 15% at a meeting next month in Bonn, while Greenpeace is campaigning for a 40% cut for a December meeting at Copenhagen where the next world climate change treaty is expected to be outlined.
According to results of a national ShapeNZ online survey of 2,251 New Zealanders this week (July 27-31), commissioned by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development:
- 49% of New Zealanders want the country to set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% or more by 2020.
- 21% want reductions of 15% or less. This includes 6% only who want a nil reduction target
- 28% are not sure what target they want.
The most preferred target is 20% (12% of respondents), while an 11 to 15% target has 6% support, and the 36 to 40% target 8%. Some 9% want a 40% plus target.
The Business Council this week advised the Government to set a 20% emissions reduction target. While New Zealand’s emissions are 24% above 1990 base levels, forestry is expected to offset this by 2020.
This means the 20% reduction is sought off a zero base, making it achievable, though it will need a “step change” in efforts to use energy more efficiently during the next 11 years, the Business Council’s Chief Executive, Peter Neilson, says.
“The ShapeNZ results indicate broad-based support for the Government to be more ambitious, as climate change negotiations evolve, than the 15% reduction target suggested by Climate Changes Issues Minister Nick Smith and Prime Minister John Key last Sunday and Monday (July 26, 27).
“If more countries commit to taking an emissions reduction target and New Zealand’s concerns about how forestry and agriculture are addressed, our politicians have a mandate to go further,” Mr Neilson says.
“There’s a continuing clear signal from New Zealanders to their MPs to get on with implementing the emissions trading scheme – through a multi-party agreement which will survive several Parliaments.
“This will provide investment certainty for new, job-rich, low-emissions products, services and technology. A price on carbon, for example, will quickly affirm plans to invest billions in new renewable energy projects, like geothermal power plants, and planting new forests.
“This survey also shows New Zealanders understand their country has a role to play in helping the world limit emissions and avoid a temperature rise of more 2 degrees centigrade. If we fail we’ll face massive costs associated with more severe climate changes later,” Mr Neilson says.
Article supplied by NZBCSD
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