Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8377. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealand “shouldn’t be a leader in climate change” given that New Zealand was awarded the “Fossil of the Day award” following his speech on the first day of the Paris climate talks?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of thePrime Minister: Yes. New Zealand is committed to doing its fair share on climate change but the cost of a further reduction in carbon emissions is more expensive for New Zealand than for any other developed country. Overall leadership needs to be provided by the major emitting nations of the world. New Zealand provides leadership in areas where we deliver the most impact such as research into agricultural emissions support of our Pacific neighbours and leading the charge on reform of fossil fuel subsidies.Andrew Little: Why is he being a “fossil fool” by proposing only an 11 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions while people who take climate change seriously such as the EU and the New Zealand Labour Party are proposing a 40 percent reduction?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Because we are reasonable and pragmatic and we set targets we would expect to be able to achieve. Any number of targets can be set over the next 20 or 30 years but we are practical about what can be achieved and take a balanced approach.Andrew Little: Why is he embarrassing New Zealand on the world stage by saying we should reduce per person emissions only a quarter as quickly as Europe?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I do not think there is any embarrassment whatsoever. New Zealand has been a long-time participant in the global discussions about climate change. We have credible targets that take into account the real cost to our economy. If the Labour Party wants to get up and say it is going to shut down all the major emitters—the aluminium smelter New Zealand Steel and the refinery—then it is welcome to do so but we do not agree with that approach.Andrew Little: Why will he not follow Labour’s lead match Europe’s proposal and make a real commitment to tackle climate change? Why are you sticking your head in the sand?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Because in general following Labour’s lead would lead to 30 percent support among the public and a lot of contradictory and difficult policies.Andrew Little: Given his Government’s claims about being concerned by climate change why is his Government spending more on subsidising foreign oil companies than on climate change research?Hon Dr Nick Smith: Rubbish.Hon BILL ENGLISH: That is rubbish. In respect of the statements that have been made about fossil fuel subsidies the World Wildlife Fund for Nature New Zealand assessment is based on what one would describe as fine-grained interpretations about tax law—that is the treatment of development expenditure as to whether it is capitalised or deductible. The assessment done by APEC and one other international body says that New Zealand has no fossil fuel subsidies. The Labour Party should be supporting New Zealand’s effort to lead the reform of fossil fuel subsidies around the world because if all countries eliminated the subsidies we would reduce carbon output by 12 percent.Andrew Little: When the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says that rising sea levels will cause billions of dollars of damage does he really think that $20 million a year for research is an adequate response?Hon BILL ENGLISH: New Zealand has committed itself to research related to livestock emissions because that is a unique aspect of our carbon emissions profile. We have had international success in attracting the interest and the funding of a range of countries. It has been a very successful exercise. But I do not know of any research programme that is based around the idea that it is going to be able to prevent a rise in ocean levels. We focus on researching where we can have an impact.Andrew Little: When future generations ask what he did to tackle climate change will he proudly say “I took greenhouse emissions to record levels.” or “I gutted the emissions trading scheme.” or “I failed to get agriculture to get cleaner.” or “I increased oil imports.” or “I did the bare minimum to look like I was doing something.”?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I think we would say one of the successful things we did was keep the Labour Party out of Government so that it did not pursue a reckless climate change policy that was bad for the economy that shut down our major emitters and that hobbled our farming sector so it could not compete.