Meaningful emissions reductions come from, well… reducing emissions. Not trying to catch them with closed fists. OraTaiao is concerned that carbon capture, utilisation, and storage schemes are a distraction from meaningful climate action. These schemes pose significant threats to our climate goals, and to health equity. The proposal will fail to abate emissions, will not ensure environmental integrity, and is not appropriate for the Aotearoa NZ context. Using CCUS as a greenlight for proceeding with oil and gas exploration is not only a significant financial and technical risk, it will increase climate damage and harm to human and ecosystem health. Each stage of the CCUS process poses major public health risks; also not present in MBIE risk assessments. We urge MBIE not to incentivise carbon capture schemes, and to reprioritise climate health and health equity.
OraTaiao's full submission to the The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, prepared by Summer Wright, is available here.