New Zealand aims to be world’s greenest in war on climate change

authordefault
on

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has not set a deadline for becoming “carbon neutral,” but she did say the nation can aim to be the first to be “truly sustainable” across the four pillars of economy, society, the environment and nationhood.

“I believe we can aspire to be carbon neutral in our economy and way of life,” Clark said.

The nation has a record of standing firm on global issues. In 1984 the government introduced the world’s first nuclear-free policy, banning all vessels that were nuclear- powered or carrying nuclear weapons. The policy strained its alliance with the US, but it was popular with voters and has been kept in place.

Clark already has committed New Zealand to more ambitious environmental targets than other countries, including replacing 3.4 per cent of its gasoline and diesel sales with biofuels by 2012. She promised government would lead by example, with six departments achieving carbon neutrality by 2012 by reducing their emissions and offsetting them by planting trees.

Related Posts

on

The latest vote was postponed after state senators considered shoring up the budget with a natural gas tax.

The latest vote was postponed after state senators considered shoring up the budget with a natural gas tax.
Opinion
on

The amount and scale of new pipelines envisioned to transport CO2 to planned carbon storage sites is hard to fathom — let alone the environmental justice impacts they foretell.

The amount and scale of new pipelines envisioned to transport CO2 to planned carbon storage sites is hard to fathom — let alone the environmental justice impacts they foretell.
on

Seven years after Fort McMurray inferno, John Vaillant sees ‘almost identical’ conditions and laments ‘avoidable’ blazes to come.

Seven years after Fort McMurray inferno, John Vaillant sees ‘almost identical’ conditions and laments ‘avoidable’ blazes to come.
on

The backbench Conservative MP joins a growing list of influential directors at Net Zero Watch and the Global Warming Policy Foundation.

The backbench Conservative MP joins a growing list of influential directors at Net Zero Watch and the Global Warming Policy Foundation.