CHESTER BORROWS: Govt's tough green targets will have shocked tiresome critics

Chester Borrows PHOTO/FILE

THE Government sometimes gets a bad rap from the media and certain public figures. They say National is so economically focused that we completely ignore the environment, always siding with dirty big business. They try to claim business couldn't care less about emissions and pollution, so long as the money keeps on rolling in.

After Tim Groser's announcement this week on challenging targets for reducing greenhouse gases, I look forward to some positive media coverage on this issue for a change.

Achieving reductions in greenhouse gases of 30 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 will be no small feat and should not be taken lightly. I am sure these targets will have taken some by surprise, especially those tiresome critics who repeatedly condemned the so-called "lack of action" from National.

When evaluating these reductions, New Zealand's unusual emissions profile should be kept in mind. New Zealand already produces 80 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, such as hydroelectric, geothermal and wind generation. This is well ahead of almost all comparable countries.

On the other hand, 70 per cent of our emissions come from the agriculture and transport sectors. This is where a major challenge lies if we are to reconcile combating climate change with sustaining good lifestyles and job opportunities for Whanganui people and all New Zealanders.

To achieve our targets, we must leverage off new technologies.

There is room for emissions reductions in the agricultural sector, for instance. New Zealand is taking a leading global role in this area and delivering advancements in technologies aimed at reducing agricultural emissions.

One prominent example is that of AgResearch's gifted scientists. AgResearch recently identified five animal-safe compounds that reduce methane emissions in cattle and sheep by 30 per cent up to an amazing 90 per cent.

Much of this ground-breaking research is being funded by the Government, with National providing $45.6 million in grants last year.

Only through advancements such as these, and clean transport initiatives such as the $2 million cycleway announced for the Whanganui region last week by the Government, will New Zealand find sufficient reductions to achieve our 30 per cent target.

Failure to act now on this global challenge puts our planet in jeopardy. Extremists on both sides of this debate emit plenty of hot air of their own, but offer few practical solutions.

Through setting achievable yet ambitious targets and supporting innovation, New Zealand is working towards ensuring a cleaner, greener future. I think that is something of which we can all be proud.