Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will begin work on developing a building 'warrant of fitness' for energy
efficiency in residential properties.
Energy efficiency in businesses
Labour believes that businesses can be competitive and more productive by adopting
energy efficiency and conservation measures and increasing their uptake of renewable
energy. In doing so, they can better manage energy and emissions prices and become more
profitable.
EECA will take the lead in helping businesses become more energy efficient.
Labour will, through EECA, help businesses to save energy, and money, by
increasing their uptake of cost effective energy management practices and
technologies.
Sustainable transport
New Zealand needs to become much less heavily dependent on fossil-fuelled cars and
trucks for transport of people and products. Transport emissions make up 19% of New
Zealand‟s overall greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport accounting for 90% of
these. We must greatly reduce these emissions.
The foundations for a sustainable transport network were laid by the last Labour government
with a 15-fold increase in public transport spending, electrifying Auckland rail, buying back
KiwiRail, and legislating for sustainable biofuels.
Labour will continue to promote public transport, cycling, walking, rail and biofuels, as well as
coastal shipping and electric vehicles. This will ultimately lead to decreased greenhouse gas
emissions.
Labour will continue to support funding for public transport and energy-efficient
freight transport modes such as rail.
Labour aims to halve per capita transport emissions by 2040. This will also make transport
more affordable and reduce oil imports (and in turn our international trade deficit).
Labour will halve New Zealand‟s per capita transport emissions by 2040.
Lifting the use of indigenous energy resources for transport will have positive spin-offs for
the economy and the environment. For example, locally made sustainable biofuel can be
produced using tallow and, as the technology becomes available, wood. Biofuel will both
reduce our dependence on oil and cut our greenhouse gas emissions.
Labour will promote locally produced biofuel, especially using wood as the
technology becomes available.
196