<
https://theconversation.com/the-government-wants-to-fast-track-approvals-of-large-infrastructure-projects-thats-bad-news-for-nzs-biodiversity-225790>
"In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition
government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for
projects deemed to be of national or regional significance.
The
Fast-track Approvals Bill, introduced under urgency on March 7, would
take precedence over several current environmental laws and give ministers the
power to skirt existing approval processes.
Leaders of ten scientific societies that conduct biodiversity research in
Aotearoa New Zealand, representing thousands of members (ourselves included),
have called on the government to slow down the pace of reform.
They warn that decision-making criteria are weighted towards
development, not environmental protection or sustainable resource use, and
undermine New Zealand’s obligations to protect the country’s unique and
threatened biodiversity.
New Zealand’s economy relies on the environment in many ways. One study
estimated New Zealand’s land-based ecosystem services contributed NZ$57 billion
to human welfare in 2012 (27% of the country’s GDP). This includes services
such as crop pollination by insects, erosion control by plants and flood
regulation by wetlands.
The fast-track bill requires expert panels to provide recommendations to the
relevant ministers within six months of a project being referred to them. This
time frame is wholly unsuitable to making proper assessments of environmental
impacts, including those on plants and animals, as surveys will likely be
conducted at inappropriate times of the year."
That is of course because the newly elected conservative coalition government,
despite their rhetoric, is far more interested in undoing everything the
previous progressive government did than in conservation or evidence-based
decision making.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
