Key needs to walk-the-talk when on the world stage

Prime Minister John Key risks New Zealand being seen as two-faced at the Paris Climate talks later today when he’ll call for reform of fossil fuel subsidies, while New Zealand is throwing around massive tax breaks for oil exploration, the Green Party says.

Prime Minister John Key intends to issue a communiqué to the United Nations tonight calling for countries to cut fossil fuel subsidies, and to make public the hand-outs governments are giving the industry.

The National Government has subsidised the fossil fuel industry to the tune of $46 million annually in the form of tax deductions for petroleum-mining expenditures which, according to an APEC review this year, “have no definite date of termination”.

“A New Zealand Prime Minister cannot stand on the world stage asking countries to do the right thing, while doing the exact opposite back home,” said Green Party Energy Spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

“Prime Minister John Key must ‘walk-the-talk’ at the Paris climate talks tonight and stop subsidising the multi-billion dollar fossil fuel industry.

“John Key is telling New Zealanders he supports climate action, yet he continues to prop up the fossil fuel industry to extract the very thing that puts us at risk of irreversible climate change.

“There are many who need more help from this Government, but a multi-billion dollar fossil fuel industry is not one of them.

“Despite the Government’s communiqué calling on other nations to be more transparent about fossil fuel subsidies it has so far refused to release how much it subsidised the industry in 2014 and 2015.

“Revenue Minister Todd McClay told the WWF, in response to an OIA request in October this year, that the Government no longer collected data on the level of tax deductions for petroleum mining, despite releasing similar information to WWF in 2012/13.

“National appears to be deliberately hiding the financial support it is giving the fossil fuel industry, which files in the face of its calls for more transparency from other counties.

“The Government can level the playing field for clean energy in New Zealand by eliminating subsidies and adopting the policies put forward as part to the Green Party’s Climate Plan. The Green Party has spent much of 2015 demanding the Government ensure solar power is treated fairly, the Super and ACC investment funds are divested from fossil fuels, and that companies responsible for climate pollution face a serious carbon tax,” said Mr Hughes.

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond

The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing...
Read More

Story

Fast track still on track to environmental destruction

Our environment remains at risk despite the Government's proposed changes to its controversial fast-track legislation. 
Read More

Story

Government throws the environment on the scrap heap

The Government has shown its disdain for nature by undermining and cutting programmes which protect and conserve our environment.
Read More

Story

Further environmental mismanagement on the cards

The Government’s resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. 
Read More

Story

Scrapping Significant Natural Areas shows significant neglect

The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife ...
Read More

Story

Say hello to NZ’s most anti-environment government in decades

The Government is giving big industry a free pass to bulldoze New Zealand’s precious native wildlife. 
Read More

Latest Climate Change Announcements

Story

Work to do on climate adaptation

The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage clim...
Read More

Story

Green Government will revoke oil and gas permits

The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of le...
Read More

Story

Govt must act to avoid the worst of NIWA’s climate projections

New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed.
Read More

Story

Government back off track on climate action

Today’s Draft Emissions Reduction Plan shows the Government couldn’t care less about a liveable climate for all.
Read More

Story

Failure of climate auction highlights government inaction

The lack of bids at today’s ETS auction is a sad indictment on this Government's staggering indifference to the climate crisis and their lack of a ...
Read More

Story

Budget cuts chances of liveable future

Scrutiny of Budget 24 and advice to the Minister of Finance shows the Government is knowingly increasing emissions and shredding climate action.
Read More

Latest Energy and Resources Announcements

Story

Job losses from mill closures consequence of Govt inaction

Hundreds of jobs lost as a result of pulp mill closures in the Ruapehu District are a consequence of government inaction in addressing the shortfal...
Read More

Story

Fossil fuels never the answer in climate crisis

The Government’s moves to enable the import of Liquefied Natural Gas is another step away from the sustainable and affordable energy network that t...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to save oil and gas ban

The Green Party has launched a petition to save the ban on oil and gas exploration.
Read More

Story

Greens would push Labour much further on solar power

Labour’s plan to support rooftop solar is a step in the right direction, but falls short of what could be achieved through the Green Party’s Clean ...
Read More

Story

Bills lower, climate happier under Green Party plan

Labour’s announcement of an energy rebate is a step in the right direction, but the Greens’ Clean Power Payment would do much more for households.
Read More

Story

Government must stop all new oil and gas exploration

The Green Party are welcoming a pause on all remaining oil and gas exploration, and call on the Government to stop it all together. 
Read More