Maybe the powers that be realize they need fossil fuels for their own jaunts around the world? For their limos/SUVs? For airplanes and big ships bringing in tourists and goods, as well as exporting them?
From the link
The New Zealand government has quietly pulled out of an international coalition for phasing out fossil fuels.
The move follows the announcement of $200 million funding to support new drilling for fossil fuel fields at the Budget.
WWF NZ said it was a “shameful retreat from international climate leadership”.
“This isn’t just backsliding – it’s an international embarrassment,” chief executive Kayla Kingdon-Bebb said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I wonder how many of the people complaining still use fossil fuels themselves
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the catalyst for leaving the alliance was the government’s decision to repeal the previous government’s ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration.
Watts said the government was committed to its climate targets.
“As we undertake our energy transition towards lower emissions fuels, natural gas will play an important role in the stability of this system until viable alternatives are in place.
“With falling domestic production presenting as a real risk to our future energy needs, the government has been looking at all options to extend the supply of gas as a critical energy source. This includes repealing the current ban on offshore oil and gas exploration and the setting aside of a tagged contingency of $200 million over four years for co-investment in new gas fields through Budget 2025.”
I’m guessing they realized that “going green” was creating some serious problems for the Elites in New Zealand. They didn’t really care about the average Kiwi.
The Green Party said the move was the latest sign the government cared little for the climate crisis or its impacts on the cost of living.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the coalition’s fossil fuel subsidies helped secure profits of fossil fuel executives but made life harder for regular people.
Hmm, those two paragraphs do not really jibe, do they?
“currently” New Zealand gets 87% of it’s electricity from renewables
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Hydro power:
Hydroelectric generation accounted for 60% of all electricity, a 4.4 percentage point increase from 2021, according to MBIE.
Geothermal:
Geothermal resources also play a significant role in New Zealand’s renewable energy mix.
Wind power:
Wind energy is also a growing contributor to New Zealand’s renewable electricity supply.
Coal:
Coal-fired electricity made up only 2.9% of generation in 2022, a decrease of 4.1 percentage points from 2021, according to MBIE.
Other renewables:
Other renewable sources, like solar and biomass, also contribute to the overall mix.