by Commissioner Dr Morgan Williams
New Zealand has some great opportunities to pursue environmental sustainability in the very way we go about our business - if we are visionary enough to grasp them. That theme runs through several major environmental studies outlined in this report, with three in particular highlighting where some of those opportunities lie.
Growing for good, our study of intensive farming, demonstrated that we must put the super-efficient use of nutrients, energy, water, and soils at the heart of our business model. We have the capacity and some of the pieces to develop new, more sustainable farming systems. But our current failure to do so is one reason our lowland water quality and soil science capacity are declining, and our soil/plant/animal systems are being run down.
Our two energy studies showed an even more striking picture. No other country has the mix of hydro, wind, geothermal, and potential wave power resources. We could be one of the first nations on the planet to have an electricity services' system without a fuel bill. Quite apart from being free of fossil fuels, the competitive advantages for a small trading nation are enormous.
In the report I expand on five areas we need to think very seriously about if these goals are to be realised:
- moving beyond mitigation to sustainability
- creating forums for dialogue
- incorporating ecological costs into economic equations
- gaps in our knowledge
- allocating resources.
Apart from the three studies referred to above, the PCE also dealt with many issues raised with us during the year. These included
Citizens' concerns investigations
Of our 223 responses to groups and individuals, 30% were investigations into environmental issues that concerned citizens had brought to our attention. This report includes a breakdown of the focus of those investigations, and in-depth reports on four of them.
Advice to select committees
We particularly assisted the Local Government and Environment Select Committee in its work to amend the Resource Management Act.
The report also outlines the environmental impacts of our office and operations; notes that our annual revenue was $2,256,000 (including a $72,000 increase in our appropriation); and that the PCE employed 17 staff compared to 16 in 2004.
