Peter Hardstaff, WWF-New Zealand's Climate Campaigner writes in the Dominion Post, Weds 1 Sept, about the slippery slope this strategy is heading for.
Read our Dominion Post article
Read WWF's submission
Read the Energy Strategy for yourself
- Developing Our Energy Potential 920 KB pdf
Thank you for submitting your views on the Government's plans for New Zealand's energy future
Submissions on the Draft Energy Strategy have now closed.The Government will now consider changes to its plans based on your feedback.
We will up-date you on progress as soon as we hear more.
What's wrong with the plan?
New Zealanders should be very concerned with the current Draft Energy Strategy.Instead of reducing our reliance on polluting and ever more costly fossil fuels, the Government is planning to expand coal and oil extraction.
This strategy will have a lasting negative impact on our natural environment and our quality of life.
- There is no clear plan to transition away from fossil fuels
- In the future, oil prices will steadily rise but the government's plans fail to protect New Zealanders from these rising costs
- Emitting carbon will cost the New Zealand economy more and more - there are no clear plans to set us on a path to lower our emissions
What needs to change?
WWF is calling on the Government to:- Reverse the priorities of the draft strategy away from coal and oil and towards renewables and new clean fuels
- Clearly state it will not expand coal-fired energy generation: it is a risky investment that will only add to our carbon emissions and lock us into old technology
- Help New Zealanders beat their addiction to oil: expand public transport, make our car fleet more efficient, and encourage development and use of homegrown bio-fuels
- Fill in the huge holes in the current plan of how to acheive 90% renewables by 2025: amongst other things, we suggest policies that allow and encourage local energy generation
What can you do?
Submissions have now closed. We will up-date you on progress as soon as we hear more.If you made a submission - thank you - whether your submission ran to a couple of lines or several pages, it was so important to have your say on New Zealand’s energy future.
