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The Progressive 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

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

A Progressives spokeswoman says the party agrees that humans are a significant cause of climate change.

The Progressive Party strongly opposes carbon taxes or credits to cut greenhouse gas emissions

A Progressives spokeswoman says the party opposes a carbon tax, “because we have an ETS. Carbon taxes were rejected some years ago by the New Zealand public”.

The Progressive Party is neutral on greater investment in public transportation

The Progressives don’t have a priority on this issue, saying it “supports both investment in more public transport and more roads”. However its policy does advocates “initiatives which encourage the use of public transport and non-pollutant based alternatives such as cycling for shorter journeys”.

The Progressive Party strongly supports the introduction of Emissions Trading Scheme

A Progressives spokeswoman says the party supports the introduction of the ETS under Labour, describing it as “a significant and practical first step in implementing a programme which will ultimately reduce greenhouse gases economy wide”.

The Progressive Party supports reform of the Resource Management Act, so that it is easier and quicker to get consents

A Progressives spokeswoman says the party supports speeding up the consent process. Its policy says, “We believe that the way forward is to be found in putting significant resources into developing greater community consensus through national and local government around the sorts of developments desired nationally, regionally and locally, and then to develop clear and consistent guidelines for approvals for these activities. This would provide a ‘fast track’ for such developments instead of treating each consent as a ‘one off’ needing to be debated and arbitrated from scratch. This would not end all disputes but would almost certainly reduce the costs, delays and uncertainties experienced in the majority of them”.

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

The Progressives don’t have a priority on this issue, saying it “supports both investment in more public transport and more roads”. However its policy does advocates “initiatives which encourage the use of public transport and non-pollutant based alternatives such as cycling for shorter journeys”.

The Progressive Party supports fuel emissions standards for cars

A Progressives spokeswoman says the party supports fuel emission standards, but the party has no specific policy on the issue.