New Zealand's Madcap Zealots

More Self-Destructive By the Day

One of the more extreme Islamic Shia'a cults is known for its devotees' self-flagellation.  In New Zealand we have another form of the same idiocy.  We are afflicted by extremist climate zealots who are bent on legislating economic activity and development in such a way as to impoverish the nation.

The legislation, unveiled in May, aims for all greenhouse emissions – aside from biogenic methane – to be reduced to net zero by 2050.  It commits to reducing gross emissions of biogenic methane to between 24-47 per cent below the 2017 levels, by 2050.

That 47 per cent level is what DairyNZ is taking issue with.  Mackle told MPs that if this became law, dairy farmers' total profit could reduce by 33-42 per cent across the 2030-2050 period.  "This is a substantial loss of income and is more than 10 times higher than the cost of $2500 per farm estimated in the Government's analysis. The impact for rural communities and the wider economy could be huge."

But Forest and Bird chief executive, and former Green MP, Kevin Hague, said New Zealand "cannot afford to go easy on methane".  "If we imagine that we are going to hit any of these targets without making significant land-use changes, we're kidding ourselves." . . . .
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The bill's regulatory impact statement (RIS) revealed that New Zealand's economy could miss out on up to $50 billion worth of economic growth because of the Zero Carbon Bill.  The RIS, written by officials at the Ministry for the Environment, reveals that New Zealand's economy will grow to $522 billion by 2050 if the zero-carbon legislation is not adopted and the status quo is maintained. 

However, if the legislation does come into force – as it is expected to later this year – the RIS showed New Zealand's GDP in 2050 will be between $472 billion and $476 billion.  That is a difference of $45 to $49 billion.

Well, what's the problem with giving up $45 to $49 billion annually?
  It represents a loss of $1,042 for every man, woman, and child in the country per year.  Given an average life expectancy in this country of 80 years, the cost over a lifetime amounts to $83,000 for every man, woman, and child. 

The Greenists and environmental radicals who now control  government policies in this area are going to damage significantly our living standards.  Why?  For what purpose?  As one blogger put it so that we might: 

(A)ll be hugely poorer while China in two days will produce more emissions that all those saved by NZ.  [Emphasis, ours.]