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EMMISIONS TRADING SCHEME.
The emiisions trading scheme is only a taxation policy. It is designed to make consumers pay more for products and services so they will reduce the use of those productand services. As such it is not a solution in itself but a deliberate inconvenience to try and make consumers change.
Bearing in mind that all carbon sources will eventually run out and while damage to the environment by carbon dioxide extends acidification of the sea as well as CO2 in the atmosphere, a carbon free economy will change from desirable to essential. Our policy is to devise alternatives to
carbon use so that consumers can make a choice between competing alternatives. IE the government must become proactive in devising alternatives rather than hoping consumers will devise alternatives.
Considerations:-
1. Reducing commuting by videoconferencing ie virtual commuting.
2.promotion of electric cars, including the possibility of manufaturing electric cars in new Zealand.
3. Diverting hydroelectric power to transport essentials and away from aluminium production
As a first step, we will call for an energy audit for New Zealand.This should give us an idea of how our energy is currently spent and how it can be conserved for essentials.
Regarding the current ETS The questions that need to be answered are:-
1. WHO the money taken from the New Zealand consumer is going to.
2. What will be done with the money.
3. A detailed assurance of HOW the tax will actually solve the problem.
The J.A.M party proposes the reduction of emmissions by ending commuting as we know it - Video conferencing to create the virtual office . See our GREEN policy.
Let's remember that oil and coal resources, as we know them today, will be virtually nonexistent within the lifetime of our youngest children whether we voluntarily find alternatives now or wait until the oil and coal in the world is all used up.
But first ,it is a sad commentary on the state of the world's knowledge base, that "ClimateGate" has seen the criticism that scientists are fudging fatcs or hiding conflicting data. Are we being manipulated as we were with the infamous weapons of mass destruction search?
Are we spending money without a clear reward?
Then the question must be asked , can taxation work? With a similar problem, the destruction of the ozone layer, the cause was identified and the situation remedied by adopting an alternative to fluorocarbons for refrigeration. The problem with CO2 emissions is that there
has been no clear alternative to burning fossil fuel identified? There seems also to be no emphasis on innovating to find a solution.
So is ETS the way to go? NOT witout the Australians !!
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