23 Jun 2009

Green Party forestry, biofuels bills drawn from ballot

12:51 pm on 23 June 2009

Parliament will consider Green Party bills on sustainable biofuels and forestry after they were drawn from the Member's ballot.

A bill drafted by Jeanette Fitzsimons would make sure biofuels sold in New Zealand are environmentally sound, by restoring a sustainability standard to the Government's current subsidy scheme for biodiesel production.

It would rule out fuels made from food crops, made by destroying biodiversity, or which did not significantly reduce carbon emissions.

A second bill, drafted by Catherine Delahunty, promotes sustainable forestry and encourages the production of certified timber products in the developing world.

It would restrict timber imports to sustainably produced wood, banning imports from illegal logging operations.