Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton has joined the chorus of government voices rejecting a report calling for New Zealand to slow down its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
In a report released yesterday the New Zealand Institute recommended New Zealand adopt a "fast follower" approach to emissions reduction.
The report recommended New Zealand delay meeting its emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol to 2020 rather than 2012.
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Climate Change Minister David Parker immediately rejected the report saying New Zealand had to honour its commitments, as well as take action on climate change.
Mr Anderton said every time the Government acted on climate change the business community "wheeled out" someone to "cry wolf".
Business organisations have spend the last two years bemoaning the lack of certainty on climate change policy, he said.
"Now that certainty has been provided, they want to kick it for touch. We can only assume that this is another stalling tactic to duck responsibility for polluting activities," Mr Anderton said.
"These so-called business leaders have clearly failed to grasp the strategic importance of New Zealand taking action on climate change.
"As a biologically based economy we have more to lose from a changing climate than any other developed country on earth."
Institute chief executive David Skilling said the report recommended New Zealand adopt a "fast follower" approach with respect to emissions reduction, and move no faster than comparable countries.
"New Zealand's primary exposure to climate change is economic in nature, and the nature and size of this exposure depends on actions taken by global consumers, firms and governments."
The Government's proposed emissions trading scheme lacked strategic clarity, Dr Skilling said.
"Should New Zealand aim to be a world leader with respect to reducing emissions, to move with the pack, or to do as little as possible?"
- NZPA
