TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN ... WHICH SHOULD BE QUITE A FEW
Submitted by climaterealists on Wed, 15/12/2010 - 10:49
In 2005 Nick Smith said:
- Nats launch 'axecarbontax' campaign
- Send C Tax the way of fart (sic) tax
- The madness (sic) of C Tax will drive up the cost of living
- The tax will undermine our competitiveness
- There's no justification for NZ to go out by itself on this issue (Idoubt that the pun was intentional!)
- We only contribute .4% of CO2 global emissions (I reckon we may sequester it all)
- We are the only people in the world paying it
- It will cost Nelson/Marlborough $25 million/year (I reckon that's a helluva lot more than $3/head Nick quotes)
- It will adversely impact on inflation
- It is just an excuse for Dr Cullen to get deeper into our pockets
- It will make not one iota of difference to NZ emissions
- We need to bury this lemon (er, yes!)
More recently we have this Nick Smith 'Generic Column' (below) expressing precisely the opposite. It demonstrates a lack of sincerity and commonsense - and (to quote Nick) a touch of 'madness'.
Sure, 29 countries have 'signed up'. That means 166 countries have not - including most of our major trading partners.
Nevertheless, the worst part of all this is the hypothesis. We are emitting 'more' CO2 which is causing the planet to warm. That will cause the seas to rise, more extreme weather, famine, desertification, polar ice to melt, species to become extinct.
But the planet has not been warming for about a decade. It may even be cooling.
Maybe we should increase CO2 emissions?
jc
Generic Column – Emissions Trading Scheme by Dr Nick Smith
The National Government believes New Zealand as a responsible international citizen must act to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the science points to climate change happening, and it’s one of those issues where if you wait to be 100% sure it will be too late to do anything about it.
We believe our moderate emissions trading scheme will help us reduce emissions in ways that result in the least cost to society and the economy. The world is set on a path to constrain emissions. Countries have to adapt to a price being placed on emissions. We are one country along with many others that is taking action, whether it is an ETS, a carbon tax, or funding from taxpayers. The sooner New Zealand starts that process, the easier the transition will be rather than waiting and having to go harder later.
For the average Kiwi household it is estimated it will cost $3 a week through increases in electricity and fuel costs. This is half what Labour’s ETS would have cost and is a relatively modest amount to do our fair share in fighting climate change. To put this in the context of the Budget tax reforms – including the impact of higher GST – the average household will receive an extra $25 a week or $1285 a year in the hand.Money collected under the ETS from oil companies and electricity generators will go towards funding projects that offset their carbon dioxide emissions, such as planting trees in New Zealand.
The Government does not make any money from the ETS.As a small trading nation it is in New Zealand’s long-term interests to have an ETS to protect our clean, green brand. Doing our bit now to curb the growth of emissions puts us in the right space to protect our brand, market access and economy.It is vital to our future prosperity that we ensure there are no barriers to overseas markets.
New Zealandis not leading the world with an ETS. Of the 38 countries that signed the Kyoto Protocol, 29 have an ETS – the bulk in the European Union. In the United States the Obama Administration has indicated its intent to pass legislation before the end of the year. Ten north-eastern states in the US are already part of a cap and trade scheme. Four Canadian provinces have similar schemes and Tokyohas already introduced an ETS. While Australiahas delayed its ETS, Australia, like New Zealand, has signed the Kyoto Protocol and is liable for its emissions. Due to this delay some have assumed there will be no cost for Australian households and businesses. This is incorrect. The Australian Government is spending $5.1 billion on clean energy initiatives to help meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. This money will come out of the pocket of Australian households and businesses.
It is important New Zealand does its fair share in combating climate change but we don’t want to jump ahead of the rest of the world. That is why there will be a review of the ETS next year, and at regular intervals thereafter, so we can reassess our approach relative to international progress and the latest science. Our very moderate ETS is the sensible way for New Zealand to make progress.
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