Greenpeace – We need solutions not bandaids on the energy crisis

Greenpeace is calling on the Government to implement actual solutions to the energy crisis, not just short-term band aids. The Government plans to release its response to the energy crisis today.

“As a nation we need to free ourselves from fossil fuel dependency if we are to deal with the energy crisis and the climate crisis,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman..

“The Government has spent two years making the country more fossil fuel dependent. They cancelled cycleways, cut public transport, subsidised new motorways, cut the clean car discount, weakened fuel efficiency standards and increased speed limits.

“The Government cancelled the gas transition plan, the big battery project and wants to spend billions on an LNG import terminal. They blocked offshore wind generation by pushing seabed mining in the same location.

“It is time for them to admit they took the nation down a dead end – a dead end of expensive fossil fuel energy and climate disaster.

“It’s time for Luxon to issue a mea culpa.

“Real solutions mean focusing on transport solutions that reduce fossil fuel dependency such as investment in cycleways, trains, and buses.

“Making buses and trains free immediately would be a good start, as would the rapid rollout of temporary protected cycleways.

“Real solutions mean investing in more renewable electricity generation such as solar and wind, as well as more battery storage.

“And real solutions mean reducing the dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser produced from fossil gas.

“And for goodness sake, let’s stop private jets from refuelling while we are short of jetfuel.

“We have the solutions to free our nation from fossil fuel dependence while cutting our climate pollution and saving ourselves a fortune.

“Now we need the Government to free its policy from the grip of the oil and gas companies.”