The Government's leaked energy strategy reveals their incoherent economic plan to take us back to the 19th century, said the Green Party today.
"This strategy demonstrates how backwards-looking this Government is on energy," said Green Party Energy spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.
"They clearly do not have a logical, coherent plan.
"On one of the first pages of the document, the strategy acknowledges that oil prices and the cost of greenhouse gases will rise.
"But instead of developing a plan to reduce our reliance on these unsustainable energy sources, it goes on to prioritise fossil fuels like offshore oil drilling and lignite — the dirtiest coal," said Dr Graham.
"It's a short sighted economic strategy that will ultimately impoverish New Zealand, and will undermine international efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions."
Dr Graham also said the Government had ignored a large number of quality submissions that supported the development of renewables, energy efficiency and new technology rather than exploiting fossil fuels and mineral resources.
"We can have a smart, green economy that delivers real prosperity - for that we need a smart, green Energy Strategy.
"New Zealand's prosperity in the future will depend on investment in clean, green technology and sustainable jobs, not opening our shores to foreign companies to exploit a 19th century resource," Dr Graham said.
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