Dec 4, 2007, 2:59 GMT
Wellington - Power generation using fossil fuels will be banned for at least 10 years under a new law promoting renewable electricity production introduced into the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday.
The Greenpeace environmental organisation congratulated the government, saying the move was 'unprecedented internationally.'
Greenpeace climate campaigner Susannah Bailey. 'It will help New Zealand defend its clean green image, which has become increasingly tenuous of late.
'The ban sends a clear message to power generators that fossil fuels have no part to play in New Zealand's future.'
New Zealand already generates 70 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said, 'the government believes New Zealand must play its part in the global fight against climate change.
'We want New Zealand to be the world's first truly sustainable nation.'
Energy Minister David Parker said the 10-year moratorium on using fossil fuels like coal to generate electricity could be relaxed when it was 'appropriately mixed with renewables or based on waste products, where it is needed in an emergency or to ensure security of supply, or where the needs of isolated communities are most logically met by thermal generation.'
Greenpeace and the Green Party said they were unhappy with the government's flagship climate change policy - also introduced on Tuesday - which creates an emissions trading scheme.
They said the scheme as it stood would not deliver the cuts in emissions necessary for New Zealand to do its bit in tackling global warming.
Your Talkback on this Story