A new survey shows eighty-two percent of the population believe that emitters should pay for their excess emissions, a clear rejection of National's plan to force taxpayers to pick up the tab, the Green Party said today.
"If National won't listen to common sense, maybe the Maori Party will," said Green Party MP Jeanette Fitzsimons.
The ShapeNZ poll released today revealed voters for the two parties, which have voted for the bill to amend climate change law, National and the Maori Party, do not support most of the proposed changes. It also shows that opposition among business decision makers is even higher than ordinary voters for most of the proposed changes.
"The rushed and ineffectual amendments defy common sense and should be scrapped before they do irreparable harm to the New Zealand economy," Ms Fitzsimons said.
Eighty-two percent of National voters believe emitters should pay for any emissions in excess of New Zealand's agreed limit under the Kyoto treaty, not taxpayers. Among Maori Party voters this rises to ninety-one percent. Voters of all types soundly reject the long phase-out of free credits and support more transparency around who is getting handouts.
"All of these concerns were raised in the five minority reports to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee, including the Maori Party's report, but the Government is refusing to listen," Ms Fitzsimons said.
"Maori Party voters seem to be the most concerned of all about the environmental integrity of the scheme, and its fairness, which makes it ironic that this can only pass if the Maori Party continues to support it.
"There are many simple, effective ways of tackling climate change that won't cost the earth. Many of the recommendations we have made in our Getting There document are being rolled out by governments across the globe, except here in New Zealand.
"Ordinary Kiwis understand that climate change is a threat to our environment and our economy, requiring Government leadership. They are beginning to see that the National-led Government has been captured by the big polluters and is refusing show leadership," Ms Fitzsimons said.
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