Environment chance lost?

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 6

Environment chance lost?

Present, economic policies are | making it difficult to take advantage of ; an unparalled opportunity for sound environmental management, says the”' chairman of the E]nvrionmental Council, Dr John Hayward. J ' X , The Government’s restructuring of environmental adtainistration had provided (the county with opportunity for sound environmental management, said Dr Hayward' in the council’s (annual report. However, present economic policies! which placed greater reliance on market mechanisms made it difficult for the nation to take advantage of the opportunity. “A market economy has, for many decades, been found to .be an un-t : satisfactory means of ; dealing with environmental issues,’ he said. ' | ■ ' - ■ .'I ! . “One reason for this is that the (rights of ownership of natural resources are often) poorly specified! : A second) is that trie value !; of some resources) cannot ; be determined in 1 mone- . tary terms. A third is that 1 the short term perspective of a market economy

. positively discriminates against the needs of ; future generations. J | , ‘The Council believes j that environmental management cannot be left to market mechanisms; It must be a matter which is clearly under direct Gov- : ernment and ministerial I control. ■■x J I | ‘Qonporatisation ! and privatisation each in their own way reduce the) severe gnty of the) people]arid transfer power to capital. Both have far (reaching consequences.; : ! ‘Each decision (that ; results in less, public ac- | countability and less (community control of .! our natural and physical, en- ; yirdnment is !a challenge ! to lour identity' as) New' I Zealanders, for it weakens I buri relationship (with; our ( laid arid (water: our; environment. The Council questions ( whether ( the ; Government has had suf- : ficient regard- for such ( matters,’! Isaid- Dr !Hay--1 ward. I ■ I X 1; i'Nor will the new ! ad- ; mmistrative structures oL ; themselves solve our environmental . i problems. ' They are merely a means by which sound management might happen.”