Govt. should drive vehicle efficiency gains

Passing a Green Party Bill in Parliament today would see Government taking the lead on driving a more fuel efficient and therefore cheaper vehicle fleet, said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today.

“My Bill demonstrates a practical way our Government can show climate change leadership by driving the most efficient fleet of vehicles on the road,” said Dr Norman.

Dr Norman’s Member’s Bill will have its First Reading in Parliament this afternoon. It aims to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases by requiring the state sector to purchase or lease passenger vehicles that have a better than average emissions performance of 170g/km of CO2 (approximately 7 l/100km). Emergency and other specialist vehicles such as Fire, Police, Ambulance, Defence and Department of Conservation vehicles are exempted from this provision.

“The Bill will lead to significant cost and emissions savings throughout the Government’s fleet of 21,000 vehicles while influencing the subsequent purchasing decisions of company fleets and the public,” argued Dr Norman.

The last Government Fleet and Procurement Practice Report found that, “except for the district health boards, there is significant potential to reduce vehicle size across the fleet.” The current average emissions performance of the fleet is 210g/km of CO2 (9.2 l/100km).

“Transport makes up 20 per cent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, is growing fast, and one of the simplest sectors to start turning emissions growth around. This Bill targets the low-hanging fruit for emissions reduction,” said Dr Norman.

The International Energy Agency recently warned member governments that there will be a serious oil supply crunch in 2015 and a peak in oil production in 2020 – both of which will occur in the lifetime of any vehicles purchased today.

“Rapidly rising oil prices are just around the corner, so it makes sense to ensure we buy the most efficient vehicles now to save the taxpayer from a fast-growing fuel bill in the future.”

Both Labour and the Maori Party have so far indicated their support for the Bill.

Link to Climate Change (Government Vehicle Procurement) Bill:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2009/0074/latest/whole.html#dlm2301502

Link to Government Fleet and Procurement Practice Report:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/sus-dev/government-fleet-procurement-practice-oct06/html/page1.html