Seven out of 10 people want the Government to invest in public transport and alternative fuels as easy-to-reach oil supplies run out, a poll by environmental organisation WWF has found.The Colmar Brunton phone poll of 500 people this month was conducted a
Seven out of 10 people want the Government to invest in public transport and alternative fuels as easy-to-reach oil supplies run out, a poll by environmental organisation WWF has found.
The Colmar Brunton phone poll of 500 people this month was conducted ahead of the deadline for submissions on the Government's draft energy strategy on September 2.
WWF has criticised the draft energy strategy as an approach of "wait and see" once petrol and diesel becomes less affordable.
"We are advocating for the Government to set out a clear strategy to transition away from New Zealand's current heavy reliance on oil for moving people and goods," said WWF climate change campaigner Peter Hardstaff.
As part of the poll, people were told that the Government expected oil prices to rise steadily as cheaper oil supplies ran out, and that increased New Zealand oil production would have no impact on this trend as the price is fixed to international oil prices.
They were asked if they thought the Government should:
* Invest now in developing public transport and alternatives to petrol and diesel for New Zealand;
* Or allow consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods and fuels when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high.
Seventy-two percent said the Government should make the investment now, 24 percent said the Government should let consumers or companies find their own alternative, and the remaining 4 percent said they don't know.
