Farmers' leader queries star's green credentials

Photos: James Alcock

EYE OPENER: Keisha Castle-Hughes visited Aitutaki Island locals and listened to their climate change concerns. Federated Farmers is less convinced about her work.

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Greenpeace supporter actress Keisha Castle-Hughes has come under fire from Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson for wasteful carbon use in promoting her new film, The Vintner's Luck.

Backed by the New Zealand Film Commission, it was filmed in France, had its world premiere in Toronto and is being marketed by its stars throughout the world.

"We know it takes one kilogram of carbon to produce a litre of milk but how much carbon is needed to produce and distribute a movie?" Mr Nicolson asked.

In a hard-hitting speech yesterday to the Plant Protection Society in Dunedin, he questioned the "almost religious aura" that humans were responsible for climate change. The speech invoked memories of a similar outburst by previous president Charlie Pedersen, who in 2006 accused environmentalists of arrogantly waging war against the human race.

Mr Nicolson attacked Castle-Hughes, Greenpeace, Greens co-leader Russel Norman and Labour environment spokesman Charles Chauvel for the "most bizarre notion" that climate variation was new "that it is unique, unparalleled and frightening".

He gave examples of historical climatic changes, such as the creation of the Sahara Desert 6000 years ago from green savanna, the abandonment of a Neolithic settlement in Orkney when it became colder 4500 years ago and the invasion of Britain by Saxons 1500 years ago when their homelands were flooded by rising seas.

"I wonder what Russel Norman, Charles Chauvel or Keisha Castle-Hughes would have made of this fifth century dislocation? No doubt they would have railed for international conventions against retreating glaciers and rising sea levels. Human activities would have been fingered so the burning of peat, the forging of steel would have been banned by treaty."

Humans had always adapted to climate change and always would. "People have two choices to either fear tomorrow or roll with it and adapt. Farmers and scientists together have proven this ability to adapt and evolve."

Mr Nicolson slammed as misguided New Zealand's obsession with greenhouse gas emissions to the detriment of investment in research. The real effect of the announced 10-20 per cent emissions reduction, when dated to 1990, was a cut of 34 per cent to 44 per cent.

"It's farcical to hear Opposition MPs scaremonger that consumers in Europe and North America will boycott New Zealand food without a tax or a target. It's a hollow argument as ... governments [in Europe and North America] are keeping their farm animals out of their emission responses," he said.

A reductions target could not work in the face of an expanding global population, he said. "This isn't defeatist but realistic. It demands investment in science and research rather than misplaced faith in a tax and a target."

He called for 0.05 per cent of gross domestic product to be put into research. This would raise $87.5 million annually for low carbon initiatives.