Tena kotou katoa
Which bit of climate change, expensive oil or physical inactivity don’t they understand? The budget relies on a treasury forecast of $100 per barrel of oil (West Texas) at end of 2012. GS suggest $141 in 2008 and between $150 and $200 within 2 years. http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/befu2008/befu08-pt3of9.pdf
I’m here to talk about what’s in the budget for sustainability which is clearly NOT at the heart of the budget, nor unfortunately at the top of demands made by voters. Climate Change seems to be something that other people, other countries and other sectors should deal with. Advantages to NZ to be leading and innovative seem to have been forgotten. How can we persuade China or US or ASEAN countries to reduce emissions if we have one of the highest per capita rates in the world? We have such natural advantages of wind, water and tide power.
Sustainability includes cultural and social wellbeing so I’m pleased with the COGS funding increase of $10.26m over four years and the money for the NZ Music Commission for example.
Some investment has dual outcomes – such as health and environment. The $6million for insulation retrofits for low income families in their homes is exceeded by energy saving programmes for business at $9.3million - showing that saving money on a non-core activity isn’t something that comes naturally to all businesses.
The Greens have also exercised some power to get budget allocations for conservation measures, especially the Community biodiversity fund and five major research projects on conservation land.
The reduction in income tax has the potential to increase or decrease public health, depending on what individuals spend it on and how on earth we fund the health, education and other collective spending we should do as a sustainable just society.
However, to help justify eating a hearty breakfast, I want to talk about the relationship between and public health and funding transport particularly active modes.
Physical inactivity is clearly a major cause of ill health. The World Cancer report issued last year indicated that diet and physical activity were critical to most of the developed world’s diseases and they put physical activity as the more important of the two.
Walking is great medicine for depression, preventing and rehabilitating heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis without unpleasant side effects. Reduced vehicle volume and speed in a truly people-friendly city reduces air pollution, a significant contributor to respiratory disease and road crashes as well as encouraging active modes.
Most people can’t find an extra 30 or 60 minutes a day for exercise. Walking to work, school, for lunchtime errands and to the bus stop EVERY day make it easier to accumulate enough activity.
I believe it took Green brinksmanship to secure the Auckland rail electrification.
So there is good news for rail generally. PT and walking form a successful symbiosis. The big buy back of Toll and the coastal shipping initiatives show promise to get some big trucks off the roads. They are SO intimidating, dangerous to people on foot and cycles and very expensive wear and tear on the roads.
While rail is funded directly from Cullen’s budget, the rest of the Transport funding is not detailed in the budget. Apart from the Canterbury Transport Plan which might be good or bad – it says it’s "integrated” which usually means roads with a frill of PT and a sprinkle of walking and cycling promotion (no infrastructure in case it slows down the real traffic)'
The signalled withdrawal from the ETS by National is almost matched by the weakness of Labour postponing the fuel sector joining the ETS. Fuel prices don’t seem forecast to drop last time I looked – which was yesterday. Does Cullen think 2011, another election year, will be any easier to bring them in? Meanwhile my income taxes will subsidise the man in the Hummer who passed me while I wait for the over-crowded Number 1 bus – or, in peak hour, I pass him easily on my bike. Market forces seem the mantra of the major parties until they are faced by the big emitters or the voting public.
We need to face up to a transition – and the good news is that much could be achieved by funding LESS roading. The Hon Annette King, MoT, does genuinely accept that walking and cycling are good, whether for schoolchildren or adults BUT seems oblivious to the negative effects of more capacity creating induced traffic, Her Press Release regarding the budget still speaks glowingly of the worst thing to do for public health – “We are currently funding the largest ever investment in our road network.”
Now some safety concerns, some crossings and traffic lights, some engineering and some traffic calming come under the roading budget but the big items of SH20 and other road capacity increase is still there. Nevertheless I recognise the increase in public transport funding by almost 1000 per cent i.e. 10 x as much from the $41 million spent in 1999/00. It’s still so far short of new roading to be laughable.
Transport is funded through the National Land Transport Programme, created by fuel tax and RUC. How that is spent is decided through the NLTP. Later this year we’ll see the shape of the GPS and UNZTS and associated legislation. Will it change Funding Assistance Rates? At the moment there’s about 53% subsidy on local roads, 100% on SHs and nothing for f/p maintenance. Will govt reallocate budget – probably not when few apply to do school or workplace travel plans - 86 and 31 respectively in 2006/07 across NZ.
Petrol tax not reduced – still fifth cheapest in OECD. It’s what we use it for – and regional petrol tax still awaits legislation.
Wellington is touted as PT capital BUT there are still areas without bus routes such as a direct service to Owhiro Bay/Happy Valley – or Aro Valley at the w/e.
Often it seems there’s not enough money for everything but we don’t want everything. More roads are inimical to our future. If we think N2A should be light rail not tunnels, it’s probably cheaper; TGM white elephant fund could increase safety measures instead – or schools, broadband or something more worthwhile economically and socially, let alone environmentally.
FBT changes to reduce company car use, free company car parking, equalise travel reimbursement whatever the mode and remove other anomalies would have a noticeable effect on emissions reduction, increase public health, reduce congestion AND save money.
I don’t want to leave you with doom and gloom regarding active modes.
Greater Wellington’s perception survey shows improved perceptions of child pedestrian safety 88% would let them walk near their home, up from 84% in 2004 and 59% walk to school up from 52% - this is allow not actually do! There is scandalously little measurement of whether children walk to school or not.
In Wellington City, 2.6% cycle to work while 18.8% walk (2006 census). However, Wellington City is the only area in Wellington region with increase since 1996. We have a challenge in other regions too.
The Ministry of Silly Walks probably set back walking advocacy by a decade but nevertheless I’ll take the liberty of ending on a walking joke – a bit of an old chestnut. My uncle started walking five km a day for his health when he was 60. He’s 97 now and we have no idea where he is...
I’ll leave you by urging that you sign up to the International Walking Charter with its 8 principles – and please pick up some information about Living Streets from our director, Liz. Join us – we need all the knowledgeable active advocates we can get.
Celia Wade-Brown