Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 29 November 2012. Volume:686;Page:6940. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Climate Change Issues 
: How does New Zealand rank internationally in terms of net emissions in the latest United Nations national greenhouse gas inventory data for the period 1990-2010? 
Hon TIM GROSER (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 The latest UN report on inventory data for this period shows that New Zealand’s net emissions in 2010 are ranked 29th out of the 42 annex 1 countries—roughly developed countries—in a recent summary by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Was the report accurate then when it showed New Zealand had the second-largest increase in net emissions of the 41 annex 1 countries in the report? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: It is a different issue about the rate of change going back over 20 years and six or seven Parliaments. All I can say is that in the course of the life of this Government net emissions have decreased. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very straight question. I asked whether the report was accurate when it said we had the second-largest increase in net emissions. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member’s point is correct in that it was a very simple question. If the Minister does not have that information then that is one thing but I think he should attempt to answer the question. 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: The answer is straightforward. As far as I understand the answer is yes over a 20-year period. The point I am making is that in the period for which this Government has had responsibility New Zealand’s emissions in net terms have decreased. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Are not New Zealand’s net emissions going to increase even further because his Government gutted the emissions trading scheme and is he aiming to become the country with the biggest increase in emissions a race this Government seems determined to win? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I am confident that the one commitment that we have taken which is to reduce our emissions according to our original Kyoto Protocol commitment will be fully met. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does the Minister think that Kiwis will be “loving it” in the words of the Prime Minister that New Zealand’s net emissions which increased by 60 percent in this period are now going to go through the ceiling because the bottom has fallen out of the emissions trading scheme and New Zealand now faces another chainsaw massacre in forestry job losses? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I think New Zealanders will be “loving it” that they are run by a Government that is putting the interests of households jobs and industries first. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Well does the Minister think that Kiwis will be “loving it” in the words of the Prime Minister that his changes to the emissions trading scheme are going to cost taxpayers $328 million according to Treasury’s paper that went to Cabinet—$328 million that has been transferred from polluters on to taxpayers? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: This is treading over very well trodden ground. That represents a figure of revenue that would have occurred had we decided to increase charges to taxpayers and households. Eighty percent of that figure would have been borne by households and businesses. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does the Minister think that Kiwis will be “loving it” in the words of the Prime Minister that the Small Island States chair Nauru’s Marlene Moses has said that she is disappointed and mystified by New Zealand’s refusal to sign up to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I think we will be able to clarify the situation when we have the opportunity to speak directly to the Nauruan delegation. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Will the Minister agree to sign this letter to the future generations of New Zealanders saying “I am sorry. I knew what the right thing was to do but I chose not to do it. Tim Groser.”? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I do not think I can possibly answer the question. I have no idea what this letter is or what the organisation he has referred to is—unless it is the delegation of New Zealand youth leaders to the conference in Qatar which is going to include as a so-called youth leader a political adviser of the Green Party. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How—[ 
Interruption 
] Did you pick him? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I have called Dr Russel—[ 
Interruption 
] Order! I must hear the question. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How can we ask the rest of the world to make the necessary cuts to avoid out-of-control climate change when we ourselves are refusing to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and we have the second-largest increase according to the United Nations? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: The whole purpose of this conference that Mr Bridges and I will be going to is to try to ensure that the future agreement encompasses 85 percent of countries outside the Kyoto Protocol so that we have a serious opportunity for the first time of getting on top of the problem. I think that is an entirely reasonable position for any New Zealand Government to take. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table a draft letter from the Hon Tim Groser apologising to future— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The source of this document? 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I wrote it for him. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No we do not— 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table the United Nations’ latest update on greenhouse gas emissions. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is available to all members—the latest document. 
Todd McClay 
: Has the Minister come across any other recent reports on New Zealand’s current international standing in respect of our relative environmental impact? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: Yes. I have seen another report the so-called  
PLOS ONE 
 report which attracted media comment this week called  
Evaluating the Relative Environmental Impact of Countries 
 which notes I have to say that we are well off the pace set by the top 10 best performers which include Tajikistan Djibouti the Central African Republic and Swaziland. But I am sure that we could achieve parity with these leading performers if we adopted the economic policies pursued by the Green Party.