Wellington - Power generation using fossil fuels will be
banned for at least 10 years under a new law promoting renewable
electricity production introduced into the New Zealand parliament on
Tuesday.
The Greenpeace environmental organisation congratulated the
government, saying the move was 'unprecedented internationally.'
Greenpeace climate campaigner Susannah Bailey. 'It will help New
Zealand defend its clean green image, which has become increasingly
tenuous of late.
'The ban sends a clear message to power generators that fossil
fuels have no part to play in New Zealand's future.'
New Zealand already generates 70 per cent of its electricity from
renewable sources and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said, 'the
government believes New Zealand must play its part in the global
fight against climate change.
'We want New Zealand to be the world's first truly sustainable
nation.'
Energy Minister David Parker said the 10-year moratorium on using
fossil fuels like coal to generate electricity could be relaxed when
it was 'appropriately mixed with renewables or based on waste
products, where it is needed in an emergency or to ensure security of
supply, or where the needs of isolated communities are most logically
met by thermal generation.'
Greenpeace and the Green Party said they were unhappy with the
government's flagship climate change policy - also introduced on
Tuesday - which creates an emissions trading scheme.
They said the scheme as it stood would not deliver the cuts in
emissions necessary for New Zealand to do its bit in tackling global
warming.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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