Green New Deal: Win-Win-Win

Can the Government tackle two of New Zealand's biggest problems atthe same time? The Greens say yes and have released a report that shows how.

The problems are these:

First, we have 150,000 New Zealanders out of work. This is the highestnumber of Kiwis out of work for 15 years.

Second, we need to look after our water, land and wildlife better. Thesenatural assets are the foundation of our economy and they're severely degradedat the moment.

Taking on economic and environmental problems at the same time is knownas a Green New Deal approach. Many governments around the world have adoptedtheir own versions of a Green New Deal to help navigate the recent globalfinancial crisis.

Back in May, the Greens released a Green New Deal stimulus package with quantifiedsuggestions for ways the Government could invest to create new jobs and protectthe environment in energy efficiency, transport, waterways, state housing, andcommunity sector initiatives. The popular home insulation scheme currentlybeing implemented was one initiative from this first package that theGovernment adopted.

This week, the Greens have released a second package, outlining GreenNew Deal investment opportunities in forestry, pest control and wilding conifereradication. Unlike the first package, these measures focus particularly on jobcreation in rural areas, where the evidence suggests much of the pain of highunemployment is currently focused.

Together, these Green New Deal reports offer the Government a menu ofmeasures that could be implemented rightnow at very little cost to work towards the twin goals of creating jobs andprotecting our environment.

Co-leader Russel Norman and Conservation Spokesperson Kevin Hague talk about the economic and environmental benefits of this package.

Big thanks to Urban Tramper for the use of their track 'My Grand Plan' in this podcast.

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