100 % Pure Misnomer

Environmental problems caused by New Zealand’s export industries of farming and fishing are damaging New Zealand’s clean green image, a groundbreaking Government report revealed today.

“As if we needed another one, we now have a very serious reminder that our environment is in peril,” said Greenpeace Campaign Director Carmen Gravatt. “All political parties must explain how they intend to reverse these trends.”

Among the most concerning issues in the 2008 State of the Environment Report are rising greenhouse gas emissions, the collapse of many key fisheries and the massive environmental impact of agriculture on the land and climate.

“Our per-capita greenhouse emissions are amongst the worst in the world, nore New Zealand fisheries are overfished since the last State of the Environment Report and fish stocks that were then very healthy are now in strife.

“In her state of the nation address yesterday, the Prime Minister said ‘New Zealand is increasingly recognised for its willingness to front the environmental sustainability challenge’ – reports like the one released today make a mockery of these sorts of statements,” said Ms Gravatt.

“Consumers around the world are becoming increasingly concerned with the environmental integrity of products, and our exporters should be doing everything they can to corner and monopolize this high end of the market. But New Zealand is currently claiming to be something it’s not on the world stage. If we don’t act fast our “clean green” reputation will be revealed as a farce, and our economy will suffer as a result.”

Ms Gravatt said the government needed to crack down on agriculture. “The rise and rise of industrial, large-scale dairying has had a major impact on the environment.

“Agriculture accounts for half of all New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, these emissions are rising, and agricultural production is becoming less efficient compared to other countries. Yet agriculture is currently exempt from the Emission Trading Scheme until 2013. This is unacceptable.

“Agriculture must be brought under the scheme earlier, so that the farming sector can start taking responsibility for its cost to the environment. In the meantime the rate of dairying conversion must be addressed and the sector must work on sustainability across the board.

“Our own surveys show that New Zealanders care deeply about climate change, and they are looking for leaders who’ll help address the challenge. To date, we’ve seen more slogan and rhetoric than real solutions from most politicians.

“We need to start paying sustainability more than lip service in New Zealand. Slogans won’t save our rivers, marine life or the climate.”

All political parties must:

1) Put in place an emissions reduction target of 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

The single most glaring omission from the current Government’s package of climate change response measures is an overall greenhouse gas reduction target. Targets in themselves will not stop climate change, but they do set the scene for what needs to be achieved, and give a clear signal to policy makers that they should formulate policies with the long term in mind, and policies that are capable of achieving the targets set. Countries that are serious about taking a leadership position on climate change have set national targets as a demonstration of good faith. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified a range of 25-40% reductions by 2020 for developed countries.

2) Commit to bring agriculture in under the Emissions Trading Scheme earlier than the scheduled 2013. As well, agriculture must not be subsidised with free permits to pollute; rather emission permits should be auctioned and the revenue generated invested in equipping New Zealand to more effectively address climate change.

3) Address the current rate of conversion to dairying.

4) Legislate for 30 and 40 per cent of New Zealand waters to be protected as marine reserves.

5) Put in place a comprehensive overarching marine protection policy to ensure oceans are protected from exploitative activities.

6) Ensure all decisions made around catch limits and fisheries management are made in accordance with the internationally accepted “precautionary principle”.