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Prime Minister’s statement 2007

The Prime Minister’s statement at the opening of Parliament on 13 February 2007 outlined a number environmental initiatives that will accelerate New Zealand’s sustainable development. These are:

Towards zero waste

A new drive to cut down on waste and make it easier to dispose of. New initiatives – to be formally worked through with local government and announced later in the year – include:

  • A network of public recycling stations
  • The creation of a waste levy to fund projects to encourage recycling and recovery
  • Regulation to allow for mandatory product stewardship, including recognition of existing industry sponsored schemes.

Full details will be announced later in the year as well as in Budget 2007. Issues requiring legislation – including the creation of a waste levy – will be worked through in Parliament, including in the development of the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill currently before the Local Government and Environment Committee.

Business partnerships for sustainability

Building on existing work, the Business Partnerships for Sustainability programme, will make it easier for New Zealand businesses to find out and implement sustainable business practices. It will include support for existing sustainability advisory services and the expansion of assistance to industry groups.

Full details will be announced later in the year and in Budget 2007.

Public service takes lead in becoming carbon neutral

The 34 core public service departments will begin immediate work to achieve carbon neutrality. All core departments will start reducing emissions immediately and a lead group of six agencies – the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economic Development, Inland Revenue, Department of Conservation and the Treasury – will have carbon neutral plans in place by early 2008.

It will be mandatory for all 34 agencies to be on a path to carbon neutrality by 2012.

Full details will be announced later in the year and in Budget 2007.

Government to buy eco-friendly goods, services

The Government will use its purchasing power to grow the market for environmentally friendly services and products, including paper, cleaners, plastics and fuel efficient vehicles.

  • Public service departments will be required to create more sustainable workplaces, including greater use of renewable energy and recycling.
  • The Government intends to provide comprehensive information about which ecolabels and standards are good indicators of environmental sustainability
  • It will also increase the number of product types that carry the Government's own Environmental Choice NZ ecolabel to assist departments in implementing the new policy and encourage more suppliers to adopt sustainable practices.

Full details will be announced later in the year and in Budget 2007.

Biofuel sales required

The Government will require an increasing proportion of cleaner-burning biofuels to be sold to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security. The sales obligation, starting in April 2008, will require 3.4 percent of the total fuel sold by oil companies to be biofuel by 2012.

The Ministry of Economic Development will be developing new legislation during 2007 that will implement the Biofuels Sales Obligation and provide for the regulation of biofuel quality.

Helping households towards sustainability

The Government will develop a campaign to raise awareness of what households can due to fight climate change, improve energy efficiency, save money and reduce waste and water use. The campaign will build on and seek to integrate the practical advice and help already being given by government agencies, NGOs and the private sector. Full details will be announced in Budget 2007.

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