James Shaw says climate transition must avoid sparking 'yellow-vest' protests
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says the Governments moves to address climate change must not hurt any group in society so much that it sparks yellow-vest-style public protests. Shaw said the experience of France was important: the country had high enthusiasm for addressing climate change but a large growth in carbon taxes ended up sparking nationwide Gilet Jaunes or yellow-vest protests. He said a government that sparked similar protests would lose social licence and be forced to halt any plans to address climate change. Shaw on Wednesday made a speech laying out the Governments principles for its Emissions Reduction Plan, saying that large-scale economic changes in New Zealand had too often involved corrosive inequality . READ MORE: * Government takes to the airwaves, promising big change on climate policy * Greens reflect on year of climate change action * James Shaw won the battle on climate change, not the war * Student climate change strike: Why young Kiwis are demanding more action * Fighting climate change wouldn't stop our economy, but it might hurt the poor This was why a just transition was needed. We will only have succeeded if we transition to our low-carbon future in a way that also helps unwind existing patterns of inequality, Shaw said. Because if we dont, if the transition simply locks in or exacerbates those existing patterns of inequality, then we simply wont have the social licence to continue the transition. It will become in itself unsustainable. Witness the yellow-vest protests in France. France is a country with huge public support for climate action. But when the government brought in a carbon tax on fossil fuels, increasing household costs, it faced tremendous opposition, because the distributional impacts of the transition were not managed at the same time. Shaw said part of this would concern supporting existing low-carbon professions like teaching, social care and nursing. He said that without reform, climate change would hurt many jobs across the country based on nature in agriculture and tourism. Shaws speech did not include specific policies, which would have to go through Cabinet. The other principles were that the transition must be science-led, focused on nature itself, respect the Treaty of Waitangi, and that it be clear and affordable. He said businesses needed certainty on the long-term emissions pathway that could be relied upon even if the government changed. We will signal policies early, so businesses and communities have time to plan and confidence to invest, Shaw said. We will work to build consensus and cross-party support for the emissions budgets so that if the government changes, the direction of travel stays the same. While National signed on to the Zero Carbon Act, climate change policy has become more politically contentious of late as the Government has resurrected the feebate policy killed off by NZ First last term. National has vociferously opposed the feebate and attacked the independent Climate Change Commission. Shaw said being in opposition placed certain pressures on the National Party when it came to climate, particularly when it was in a weaker position as it was this term.