National’s 30-year infrastructure plan fails to address the biggest long-term challenge our economy faces – responding to climate change, the Green Party said today.
The National Government today released a document called The Thirty Year New Zealand Infrastructure Plan.
“While we strongly support long-term thinking around infrastructure planning and spending, by relegating climate change, National’s infrastructure plan is already out-of-date,” said Green Party finance spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.
“In thirty years’ time, New Zealand’s economy will need to be low carbon and resilient to rising sea levels and increased severe weather events.
“It’s not just the New Zealand Green Party saying this; countless reports including the recent Global Commission on the Economy and Climate emphasizes the urgent need for governments to plan for and invest in infrastructure that reduces carbon pollution.
“National is out of step with governments and businesses around the world, who are acting now to seize the opportunities presented by the new climate economy.
“National’s document looks like PR fluff – with no strong strategic direction underpinning the projects.
“The reality is, National’s current spending priorities will leave us locked in to a high-carbon future – one that will be increasingly uncompetitive compared to our main trading partners, and vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate.
“For example, in transport, National is borrowing billions of dollars to build low-value motorways, like Transmission Gully and Puhoi to Warkworth, while delaying critical, low carbon infrastructure like the City Rail Link in Auckland.
“High-carbon growth is no longer sustainable, economically or environmentally. Low-carbon growth, however, is a massive opportunity for businesses and governments alike, and we need to start planning and building the infrastructure that will support it,” said Ms Genter.
Link to Thirty Year New Zealand Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.govt.nz/
Link to the New Climate Economy Report:
http://newclimateeconomy.net/content/press-release-global-commission-fin...
