NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I am delighted to rise to speak on the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill this evening. I was very fortunate to be in Ethiopia with the member opposite Mr Nash. When I was in Ethiopia I had the opportunity to chair a climate change committee.
One thing I was very clear on is that many nations around the world are trying to do something about reducing their emissions. But one thing that has been made very apparent to members on this side of the House tonight by members opposite—and Moana Mackey said this quite clearly—is that those members are concerned about the issue of the rhetoric versus the reality. I want to make one point this evening: if we continue to talk about being world leaders in climate change policy, then we will fail. At the end of the day, nations should be judged on their record, and the record of the members opposite in terms of the environment and in terms of climate change is pretty appalling. As a nation our aim should actually be to be judged on our record.
The reason we are here this evening is to amend the Climate Change Response Act by delaying certain requirements applicable to the forestry sector under the New Zealand emissions trading scheme. This was part of our confidence and supply agreement with the ACT Party, whereby we established a special select committee to review aspects of existing climate change policy.
We in the National Party have very clear principles in the area of reducing emissions, and one of them that I want to talk about this evening—it is relevant to my background; I did a Bachelor of Science in genetics—is that good science is essential to quality environmental decision-making. Some really exciting stuff is happening in New Zealand in that area at the moment. I know that this Government is very committed to making sure that good science is behind any decisions that are made in terms of reducing emissions.
I would like to talk further about that point, but the other point that I would like to make this evening is that, as the Minister has said, without this bill many forest owners would unknowingly find themselves in breach of the law. That is why it is essential that we proceed with this legislation this evening. You know, New Zealand is the first country in the world to attempt to introduce forestry into an emissions trading scheme, and these extensions are about taking the time to get critical details right.
I am pleased to stand this evening and support this bill, because it is really important that we get the details right, and that we make sure that we have good science behind our environmental decision-making. I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
