New Zealand, on Monday, announced that the government will provide monetary help to the lower-income family groups to replace their outdated gas guzzlers with greener options of hybrid or electric vehicles. This measure is part of a larger initiative to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is a landmark day in our transition to a low emissions future,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement. “We’ve all seen the recent reports on sea-level rise and its impact right here in New Zealand. We cannot leave the issue of climate change until it’s too late to fix.”
There was a week’s delay in launching the proposal after Ardern tested positive last week. She said every community and sector had a role to play and that reducing reliance on fossil fuels would help shield households from volatile price hikes.
New Zealand plans to lower total car traffic by 20%
The experimental program will cost the government $569 million New Zealand dollars ($357 million). Incentives for firms to reduce emissions are also part of the proposal. New Zealand aims to have a curbside food-waste pick-up for most of the apartments by the end of the decade. Moreover, by 2035, all the buses may be a part of the green initiative. The initiative is a huge move towards New Zealand’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as outlined in the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement. The plan also sets a goal of lowering total car traffic by 20% over the next 13 years. This will be possible by improving city transportation alternatives and providing better options for bicyclists and pedestrians.
In-depth details about the proposal are still unknown. The government will finalize the alternative for gas guzzlers over the coming months. Moreover, the money required for the implementation of this initiative will be spent from the climate emergency response fund. Officials said that over time, money collected from polluters would pay for the programs rather than taxes from households.
