One of the things that the people at Shell Oil told me was that they were working internationally on the assumption that sometime between 2005 and 2010 world demand for oil would outstrip the capacity of the world's oil wells to supply that demand. Now, that is not a case of oil running out at that date, that is simply a case of demand outstripping supply as the easy and large oil wells start to reduce their production. But we all know that the running out thing is real, and that it will start to happen progressively from then on. Certainly that is the date at which we can expect to see rises in the price of imported oil, if, in fact, that process has not already begun over the last few months. The Greens have been saying for something like 25 years that it is time to begin a steady transition to a world that uses much less, and then, eventually, very little fossil fuel.
Energy efficiency is the first step to take.
The development of renewable energy sources has to follow hard on its heels. New Zealand has made very little progress towards the age of wind, solar, and biofuels, which is where our energy has to come from in the future. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority will have the mandate, and the Minister will have a mandate to progress and encourage the development of renewable energy in New Zealand. Turning to the amendment, new clause 4A, I point out that the previous Minister has indicated great concern about this provision. It should not be pursued at the expense of people's health.