B. Capamagian [Weekend Sun, May 29] loses sight of two things.

First, the National Party, encouraged by no less than Todd Muller, supported the passing of the Zero Carbon Act in November 2019.

This legislation obligates future governments to reduce carbon emissions.

The best way to do that is to minimise the use of fossil fuels.

Ongoing exploration for oil and gas simply does not accord with such a goal, as the growing divestment movement attests. Fostering the uptake of renewable energy is demonstrably better for human and planetary health and the pursuit of this has to become more intentional than in the past.

Second, it seems the hackneyed fall-back assertion that Labour is less fiscally responsible and economically competent will again be rolled out.

It is a fallacious argument. Under Clark, debt as a percentage of GDP fell from 22.6 per cent in 2000 to 5.5 per cent in 2008. Key increased it from 9.1 per cent in 2009 to 24.6 per cent in 2016.

No single measure, however, is adequate. Numerous exceptions and anomalies preclude any generalisation about who is better with the books.

Based on past performances, both major political parties are able to competently run the country's financials; they just have different priorities as circumstances demand.

Phillip Donnell, Welcome Bay