Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL (National—Ilam): I rise to speak in support of the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill. This bill represents a crucial step towards securing our energy future as we head to net zero 2050. Let’s be clear. The 2018 ban on oil and gas exploration was shortsighted policy that has hampered our nation’s progress. It not only stopped exploration needed to identify new energy sources, but it also discouraged investment in further development of our existing gas fields, and the result is that our annual natural gas production has peaked and has been lower than we ever predicted, putting our energy security at risk.
Also, let’s be clear. If we don’t use gas until we have renewable energy, we will have to rely on coal. The other side of the House seems to be happy with this, or maybe they’re trying to mask it with their virtual signalling, but the reality is we need thermal generation until we can get our renewable energy on track. When we’re looking at emissions—and we’ve heard cries of flooding in Spain and the effects of climate change—when we burn coal, it emits up to 75 percent more carbon dioxide than if we do gas. That means, if we look at it, 93 to 103 kilograms of carbon dioxide per thermal unit if we use coal and 53 kilograms if we use gas. Some might argue that this bill is a step backwards in our climate change efforts. But let me reiterate: if we burn coal, we are producing 75 percent more carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced. Natural gas does produce carbon dioxide, but it’s a vital transition fuel that will help us achieve our ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
We need to work to double our renewable energy, and I think nobody is disagreeing with that. But that is why we need the fast-track legislation. Because we’ve seen this winter, when the lake levels are low, the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing, that we actually need a back-up source. Gas provides a reliable source of energy to supplement those renewable energies. Without gas, we risk the increased reliance on coal, which is a more polluting fossil fuel, or we face switching off our power altogether.
