Foreword
The New Zealand Energy Strategy is an important part of a package of initiatives the government is introducing to advance sustainability and economic transformation, and to help New Zealand respond to climate change.
The quest for sustainability is a defining issue of the 21st century. It has taken on a new urgency because of the scale of the environmental challenge the world faces. Traditional patterns of development and fast growing populations have put a huge strain on our planet. This government has put sustainability high on its agenda. In doing so, it has issued a call to action to make New Zealand a truly sustainable nation.
Becoming truly sustainable is not only the right thing to aspire to – it's also the smart thing to do. In a world that cares about sustainability, positioning New Zealand as sustainable is critical to our common future. It is fundamental to New Zealand's ability to achieve our economic transformation objectives to ensure our future prosperity and international competitiveness. Making New Zealand sustainable can also stimulate new kinds of business opportunities to transform our abundant natural resources into higher value products, while protecting the environment.
Government leadership on lowering New Zealand's environmental footprint is making significant headway. The government has released a proposal for an emissions trading scheme that will, in time, cover all sectors and all greenhouse gases. Tackling climate change will require each and every one of us to do what we can, with all sectors playing their part.
The New Zealand Energy Strategy sets the strategic direction for the energy sector to contribute to New Zealand's future prosperity and sustainability. Set within a framework of competitive markets and effective regulation, the strategy will ensure the right conditions for capital investment in coming years and provide leadership on energy security and climate change issues. The New Zealand Energy Strategy specifically responds to the challenges of providing enough energy to meet the needs of a growing economy, maintaining security of supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The New Zealand Energy Strategy, along with the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, will take sustainability to new levels, by introducing initiatives that champion renewable energy across power generation and transport, energy efficiency at home and at work, and the development and deployment of sustainable energy technologies.
The government has set a target for 90 per cent of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2025. Increasing the proportion of renewable electricity is an affordable option for New Zealand, using current technology and our indigenous resources, and it is the best choice for a sustainable economy and environment.
Initiatives to increase the proportion of renewable energy used in transport, in the form of biofuels and electricity, will also help reduce New Zealand's reliance on imported fossil fuels. This will increase the resilience of our transport system and economy to sudden disruptions in oil supply, as well as longer-term concerns about global oil supplies and price uncertainty.
The New Zealand Energy Strategy, and the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy in particular, will also help us to become more energy efficient in our homes, working places and in transport. Improving the way we use energy makes good sense in terms of improved comfort, lower costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Moving to a secure and low emissions energy system will also require changes in the way energy services such as electricity, heat and motive power are produced and delivered. Many of the actions in the New Zealand Energy Strategy will ensure that New Zealand is well positioned to take up opportunities provided by emerging low carbon technologies when they are available, cost effective and applicable to New Zealand.
We are determined to become a truly sustainable nation, and even a carbon neutral nation. This strategy maps out an ambitious but achievable pathway for the reduction of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Hon David Parker
Minister of Energy
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