New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of 'carbon-neutral future'
Source: The Guardian
New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of 'carbon-neutral future'
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern says move ‘will essentially take effect in 30 or more years’ time’
Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin
Thu 12 Apr 2018 02.17 BST
The New Zealand government will grant no new offshore oil exploration permits in a move that is being hailed by conservation and environmental groups as a historic victory in the battle against climate change.
The ban will apply to new permits and won’t affect the existing 22, some of which have decades left on their exploration rights and cover an area of 100,000 sq km.
The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said her government “has a plan to transition towards a carbon-neutral future, one that looks 30 years in advance”.
“Transitions have to start somewhere and unless we make decisions today that will essentially take effect in 30 or more years’ time, we run the risk of acting too late and causing abrupt shocks to communities and our country.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/12/new-zealand-bans-all-new-offshore-oil-exploration-as-part-of-carbon-neutral-future
