Greenpeace 'scaremongering' criticised

Posted in: Media Releases: Friday, 23 April 2010

Greenpeace ‘scaremongering’ criticised

23 April 2010

Greenpeace has resorted to scaremongering tactics in an apparent effort to avoid a rational debate about the Schedule 4 mining review, says industry body Straterra.

Greenpeace issued a media release today (Friday) claiming, "mining plans under National (including coal outside of Schedule 4) could see up to 9 billion tonnes of coal mined - leading to some 13 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from burning - over two times the annual CO2 emissions of the USA.”

“If this wasn’t so serious it would be laughable,” said Straterra acting chief executive Chris Baker. “New Zealand only mines 4.5 million tonnes of coal a year and no such expansive mining plans exist. To suggest the country's coal mining sector could increase by more than 1000 times to 9 billion tonnes suggests no understanding whatsoever of the country's economic capacity.”

Mr Baker said that at the present rate of production it would take 2000 years to mine 9 billion tonnes of coal.

“Ludicrous claims like this do nothing but cause confusion and misunderstanding. We have pleaded for a rational debate around the Schedule 4 debate from the outset and it’s disappointing and disturbing that Greenpeace feels the need to take a completely opposite approach.”