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Labour Party on Environment and Energy

The environment has emerged as a significant political issue in the late 20th and early 21st century. As the debate surrounding global warming continues, and the source of future energy becomes increasingly uncertain, the importance of the environment has risen on the agenda of all political parties. Issues include the importance and relevance of climate change, the appropriate policies to address human pollution, and the source of future energy.

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The issues

Labour Party strongly supports the idea that human pollution is a significant cause of global warming

“Labour, along with most of the world’s eminent scientists, supports the belief that humans are a significant cause of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says there is 90% certainty that the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities are driving climate change,” a party spokesperson says.

Labour Party opposes carbon taxes or credits to cut greenhouse gas emissions

Labour has chosen an emissions trading scheme over a carbon tax, having failed to introduce the latter. A party spokesperson says, “we have Set clear targets for renewable energy, agriculture, and transport to get emissions down, and taken huge steps to encourage energy efficiency and boosted public transport funding 15-fold, improved vehicle fleet efficiency, and bought back KiwiRail, as part of setting up a sustainable transport system”.

Labour Party strongly supports the introduction of Emissions Trading Scheme

Labour supports the ETS. A party spokesperson says, “The ETS is fair to all Kiwis and will help New Zealand move towards sustainability. Without the ETS, the New Zealand taxpayer was liable for the full cost of our increased emissions. The ETS is a fair scheme that will encourage businesses and households to reduce emissions and to fairly share the cost between those sectors creating emissions”.

Labour Party opposes reform of the Resource Management Act, so that it is easier and quicker to get consents

Labour opposes reform to the RMA, saying it has gone far enough. A party spokesperson says, “Labour has implemented reforms to the RMA to reduce delays and costs and we are supporting local government and RMA practitioners to develop best practises and improve RMA implementation. Most resource consents are processed quite quickly and at reasonable cost - approximately 94% of consents are processed on a non-notified basis and 73% of consents are processed within the required timeframes”.

Labour Party is neutral on increased investment in public transport rather than more roads

Labour does not put public transport ahead of more roads, saying it supports both. “Labour regards a world-class transport network, which moves people and goods safely and efficiently, as a centrepiece of our drive to transform the New Zealand economy,” a party spokesperson says. “Labour has made the largest investment in land transport in a generation and we have increased investment in public transport 15 fold since 1999. More recently we have invested in rail by buying Kiwi Rail”.

Labour Party supports fuel emissions standards for cars

Labour does not have a policy supporting fuel emissions standards for cars, but says it is investigating the idea. “We’ve launched a discussion document on options for a Vehicle Fuel Economy Standard for all new and used light vehicles entering the fleet. The proposed standard aims to deliver fuel economy and emission improvements while ensuring vehicle choice and availability is maintained for consumers,” a party spokesperson says.