Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:623;Page:18589] 
10.  
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change 
: Does he believe New Zealand will meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol which comes into effect tomorrow to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels; if so why? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change) 
: 
 On a gross basis no; on a net basis yes. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Can the Minister confirm that New Zealand’s net emissions have so far risen 20 percent since 1990 and how does he plan to eliminate that 20 percent over the next 3 years? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The member will find that it is our gross emissions that have risen by about that amount. I simply say that the Government’s many programmes to reduce emissions—not to 1990 levels but certainly to levels against business as usual—are now starting to bite. 
David Parker 
: What reports has the Minister seen on business support for the Kyoto Protocol? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I have seen many reports including one today from a group representing New Zealand’s largest energy users. They see the Kyoto Protocol as being an important first step and are supportive of New Zealand’s efforts to reduce emissions and to protect business competitiveness at the same time. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Does the Minister recall justifying the Government’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in 2002—ahead of our major trading partners—on the basis of having 56 million tonnes of carbon credits to sell; and given that with the collapse in new forest plantings increase in dairy stock and increase in emissions that figure is already widely discredited does he now accept he was in error on that fundamental point? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The answer to the last question is no. The fact is that New Zealand is likely to remain a net seller of carbon credits over the course of the 2008-12 period. The amount by which we will be a net seller will fluctuate up and down as projections continue to change. 
Larry Baldock 
: Does the Minister support the view promoted by some that carbon dioxide should now be considered to be filthy life-threatening pollution or does he agree with the many sensible and balanced members of the scientific community who regard carbon dioxide as we always have regarded it: as a natural and necessary component of our planet’s atmosphere? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Like many things in life carbon dioxide is good in moderation. Climate change suggests that carbon dioxide is now becoming an immoderate part of our atmosphere. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Can the Minister explain in light of his reply to my primary question why the Government’s climate change website states that gross emissions have risen nearly 22 percent but net emissions have risen 20 percent; and is that figure on the website wrong? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I misunderstood the member and I apologise. It is true that both gross and net emissions have risen. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: He is all over the paddock. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am not all over the paddock. It is true that both gross and net emissions—[ 
Interruption 
] The member is one of those with kangaroos in his top paddock but I say to him notwithstanding that that New Zealand is still on track to meet its Kyoto targets on a net basis. 
David Parker 
: Has the Minister seen reports with regard to what other conservative Opposition leaders say on climate change? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Yes. The Conservative Party leader in Britain said last year with simple clarity: “Like the war on terror or the drive for responsible free trade no one can opt out of the fight against global warming.” Then in October last year the leader of the conservative party in this country said that he wished to renounce the protocol and that he was uncomfortable with even its underlying science. His language was starting to approach that of a bewildered conspiracy theorist. 
Rod Donald 
: Can the Minister confirm that greenhouse emissions from transport have increased by over 60 percent since 1990; and when can we expect to see energy efficiency standards for all vehicles entering the country so that within 10 years we can be using half the fuel to drive the same distance? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I cannot confirm the figure but it sounds about right. My colleague Judith Tizard the Associate Minister of Transport is now piloting New Zealand’s first-ever emissions testing and that will have its benefits. There is another issue in front of us which is whether New Zealand should go to a mandatory vehicle fuel efficiency labelling scheme. I have a meeting on that basis with officials tonight. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Can the Minister confirm that emissions from thermal power stations increased by over 90 percent from 1990 to 2003; and how will firing up the antiquated inefficient mothballed power station at Marsden B on coal help to reduce those emissions? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Electricity generation accounts for about 8 or 9 percent of all greenhouse gases in this country yet seems to account somehow for about 80 or 90 percent of public attention. Cars and cows are where our greenhouse gases largely come from. That said I say that any coal user for electricity or for other purposes will have to face a carbon charge in the future. The details of that charge will be announced later this year. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Can the Minister confirm that the current rates of forest planting are nowhere enough to offset greenhouse emissions; and what is the Government doing to discourage the conversion of forestry land—which is a sink for greenhouse gases—to dairying which he himself just described as a major contributor of those gases? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I can confirm that forest planting does not offset and never was enough to offset all our emissions. It is however enough to offset our additional emissions on 1990 levels.