Recent climate-change events show that we have already gone too far down the track of exploiting the fossil fuels. And it's going to get worse. We are wasting our time talking about limiting the global rise to 2C or 3C or 4C by the end of the century.
Those outcomes will be much worse than what we are already experiencing, so we need action now. If we are serious about arresting climate change, and the Paris agreement shows that we are, then we have to act now - not tomorrow or next week.
We need an inspirational goal like "putting a man on the moon", and immediate, clear, focused decisions to take actions that will have a high impact.
It was great to see the Government's announcement last week promoting EVs to replace our fossil-fuelled cars and transport system. This is all good but we need to arrest the exploitation of fossil fuels just as fast as we can.
I propose that we commit to reducing New Zealand's dependence on fossil fuels, including petroleum, coal and natural gas, to zero by 2030.
This commitment would make us a world leader. Our current electricity system, based on 80 per cent renewables, gives us a head-start and most of the technology to eliminate fossil fuels exists now. The vehicle fleet could be converted to electric, with hydrogen or bio-fuels as acceptable alternatives. Plans exist to make our electricity 100 per cent renewable-based.
Concept Consultants say we will need to double our electricity generation for an electric fleet. We can do this with renewable energy sources. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels to zero by 2030 is a practical, achievable goal if we start on it right now.
How can we accelerate the take-up of EVs? The first question people ask me about EVs is, "how much does it cost?" And then, "I'd love to have one but I can get an XYZ [fossil-fuelled] car much more cheaply, so I'll just have to wait." But the problem is that we can't afford to wait until 2022, when EV prices will match the fossil-fuelled alternatives.
Another impediment is the absence of an adequate network of fast-charging stations that enables easy driving.
We need to bridge the price gap between EVs and fossil-fuelled transport so they become an economically rational choice. Then people will buy them.
So, starting tomorrow, let's introduce a tax on all fossil fuels used for land transport at, say 10c a litre. Our recent experiences with petrol prices show we can cope with that. That money will be more than enough to pay a subsidy of $20,000 on all new electric cars and $10,000 on imported secondhand ones.
We should also accelerate the excellent work of Charge.net.nz, who are now rolling out fast-charging stations at about two per week.
The tax would bridge the economic gap between EVs and fossil-fuelled cars, and greatly accelerate the introduction of EVs. Other uses of fossil fuels should be similarly taxed, and the proceeds likewise used to support introduction of non-fossil-fuelled substitutes.
As mass production of EVs brings prices down, the subsidy on cars will no longer be necessary and we can shift our attention to enhancing our renewables-based power generation, and initiatives like bio-fuels that will displace fossil fuels from aviation and shipping and achieve our goal for 2030.
So my message for Minister Simon Bridges is: "You've made a good start, but please, we really need more serious commitment and immediate action."
- John Crook, who lives in Hawke's Bay, is an electrical engineer with nearly 50 years' experience in the telecommunications industry.
- Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
