KEY POINTS:
New Zealand politicians are showing a rare united front in accepting that the hot issue of climate change needs the country's urgent attention.
However, methods to ensure we become even more clean and green differ across party lines.
Representatives from all major parties responded to a questionnaire put
out by Penguin Group publishers in time for the release of The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson.
Politicians were asked a number of questions including 'How urgent do you think action on climate change is?' and 'What practical steps should New Zealand, New Zealand business and government be taking?'.
All 13 survey respondents from seven parties said it was imperative to take action on climate change immediately, with Green MP Keith Locke warning if something was not done soon it would be "suicidal for humanity and doom many of the ecosystems on the planet".
But each party approached the question of what action needed to be taken from a different angle.
Labour's Climate Change Minister David Parker said New Zealand needed to aim to be a carbon neutral economy, with a focus on environmentally friendly vehicle fuels.
"I believe one of the most practical steps our country can take is to develop and use alternative fuels -- biofuels and electricity -- to power our cars."
National Party climate change spokesman Nick Smith approached the question with a monetary reward and punish approach.
"We propose an emissions trading system that will financially penalise polluters and reward planting trees and development of technology."
Not surprisingly the Green Party respondents had a comprehensive approach to combating climate change.
It included greater energy efficiency, putting more money into public transport rather than roads, redesigning cities to be more walking and cycling accessible, limit the growth of dairying until a solution to methane from cows can be found and paying foresters for increasing the storage of carbon in trees.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was a little vague on the details of action should be taken in the fight against global warming, but said there should be broad and balanced participation from those responsible for most of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
"It is important that the government looks at a balanced approach which ensures New Zealand plays a constructive role in the global response to climate change but certainly not at the expense of other priorities such as jobs and growth."
The Maori Party advocated a Genuine Progress Index (GPI) -- a comprehensive framework for the measurement of sustainable and inclusive advancement.
"The GPI distinguishes between positive contributions to progress -- for example reduction in greenhouse gas emissions -- and negative activity -- industrial pollution."
The party also looked for a nationwide approach and said climate change was too serious to be left in politicians hands alone.
Progressive leader Jim Anderton said along with lessening greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon output by planting more trees, business opportunities also needed to be taken advantage of.
"All of this will involve investment in technology transfer, research and development, education, and encouragement through regulatory and price-based instruments."
United Future head Peter Dunne directed the survey to climate change policy on his party's website.
The website focused on all the things the public could do to reduce the worst effects of climate change.
"It's too easy to get lost and confused by the high-level debate over emission levels and Kyoto protocols and so on, while ignoring the fact that we can all help by making our homes more energy-efficient and by using solar water heating or low-flow shower heads."
United also called for a multi-party conference on the issue to be held this year so a national consensus on action could be reached that was not subject to the "whims and changes" of the three-year electoral cycle.
- NZPA
