By Celsias Team
Posted on Aug. 31, 2010. Listed in:
New research from Colmar Brunton has found that 72 percent of New Zealanders think the Government should prepare now for future oil price rises by investing in alternative fuels and in public transport. But the WWF, who commissioned the poll, say the Government's draft energy strategy does not deliver the action that the majority of New Zealanders want for securing access to affordable alternatives to petrol and diesel in the future, as cheaper, easy-to-reach oil supplies decline around the world and oil prices rise. Instead, they say, it proposes to 'wait and see' what happens once petrol and diesel becomes less affordable.
As part of Colmar Brunton's omnibus poll in August, New Zealanders were informed that the Government expects oil prices to rise steadily in the future as cheaper, easy-to-reach oil supplies decline around the world, and that increased oil production in New Zealand will have no impact on this trend because the price is fixed to international oil prices. They were asked if they thought the government should:
- Invest now in developing public transport and alternatives to petrol and diesel for New Zealand
- Or allow consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods and fuels when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high
Seven out of ten people surveyed say the Government should now be investing in alternatives, whilst 24 percent say the Government should let consumers or companies find their own alternative. The remaining 4 percent say they don't know.
"The Government acknowledges oil prices will increase in future, yet the strategy offers no protection against this. Its plan is to have no plan and hope for the best. As the research shows, the majority of New Zealanders don't believe that is good enough,” says WWF climate change campaigner, Peter Hardstaff.
He cites the results as an opportunity for New Zealand to protect the environemtna dn the economy, through measures which include tapping into New Zealand’s large potential for the development and use of home-grown biofuels and other new clean technologies.
"The right decisions now are important so we can continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and keep the cost of electricity and fuel manageable for New Zealanders and for our export earning producers. "We are advocating for the Government to set out a clear strategy to transition away from New Zealand's current heavy reliance on oil for moving people and goods."
Public submissions for the Ministry for Economic Development draft energy strategy close at 5pm, Thursday September 2.
For more Celsias stories on the draft energy strategy, see:
Criticism of Government's energy strategy continues to flow
Speak up about New Zealand’s energy future
Image: Flickr - graymalkn
