New Zealand: All stories
Best by the rest…
22 Apr 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media: Why outdated legislation is getting in the way of climate action; improving transport to tackle the climate crisis; and startups taking on carbon emissions.
On a wing and a prayer: efforts to cut aviation’s carbon footprint
21 Apr 2022
If you jump on your bike and ride out to Christchurch airport for a coffee you can rest easy in the knowledge that your caffeine hit comes with little or no carbon footprint – if on the other hand you arrive or depart on a plane it’s a different, carbon intensive, story.
Stronger climate action needed: Forest and Bird
21 Apr 2022
The government’s new biodiversity strategy implementation plan, launched yesterday, needs stronger action from government economic agencies to protect New Zealand from the impacts of climate change, according to Forest and Bird.
Singapore and NZ agree to tackle “existential threat” of climate change
20 Apr 2022
New Zealand and Singapore have agreed to collaborate on a raft of initiatives aimed at tackling the "existential threat" of climate change.
New energy company planning grid-scale solar
20 Apr 2022
A collaboration of renewable energy developers from the United States and New Zealand have founded a new company promising grid-scale solar developments to lower energy prices and cut carbon emissions.
Riding bikes for climate a life-changer
19 Apr 2022
By Liz Kivi | Christchurch man Simon Kong has gone from non-cyclist to self-described cycling evangelist. Within the space of a year he sold his car, has clocked up 6,683 km cycling, and says he lives “98%” of his life on a bike.
A stocktake of ecological destruction
14 Apr 2022
The government’s latest stocktake of the state of the environment reads like an historical litany of ecological destruction.
Best by the rest…
14 Apr 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media, the mismatch in media coverage of climate science and climate action, why businesses should be embracing bus or bike lanes instead of kerbside parking, and plans for New Zealand’s largest solar farm.
Return of inter-city rail welcomed
13 Apr 2022
The Save Our Trains Campaign says the return of key passenger services is a major win, but the government needs to do more to rebuild passenger rail throughout New Zealand.
Wellingtonians back light rail
13 Apr 2022
Light rail was by far the preferred option for a new mass transit system for the capital among those who submitted to last year's Let's Get Wellington Moving public consultation.
Covid stalls NZ's GHG emissions
12 Apr 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has achieved what politicians have failed to do for decades: stall the growth in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Community group hopes to slash emissions with e-trikes
12 Apr 2022
By Liz Kivi | A Christchurch community organisation supplying organic veggies to low-income households is crowdfunding for cargo e-trikes to cut carbon emissions from their deliveries.
Hydrogen 11 times worse than CO2 for climate: new report
12 Apr 2022
Hydrogen will be one of humanity's key weapons in the war against carbon dioxide emissions, but it must be treated with care. New reports show how fugitive hydrogen emissions can indirectly produce warming effects 11 times worse than those of CO2.
Vegan marketing expert shocked at NZ's campaign against "plant-based" diet
11 Apr 2022
By Liz Kivi | The creator of a vegan online guide is disappointed that New Zealand was instrumental in removing a call for “plant-based” diets from the summary of the latest IPCC report.
New directory to help businesses slash carbon
11 Apr 2022
A business directory launching tomorrow aims to reduce carbon emissions and waste by helping businesses transition to a circular economy.
World is at one minute to midnight on the climate clock
8 Apr 2022
When it comes to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees the clock is at one minute to midnight, a Dutch expert told a Primary Production select committee briefing on biogenic methane yesterday.
Best by the rest…
8 Apr 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media, the Supreme Court agrees to hear a landmark climate case, and the Climate Commissioner says Aotearoa must take urgent action to lower emissions.
$1.5 billion urgently needed for flood protection: local government group
7 Apr 2022
Te Uru Kahika - Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa’s Chief Executive Officers Group is calling on the government to commit $1.5 billion over the next decade for flood protection.
Home-grown almonds promise to lower nuts' carbon footprint
7 Apr 2022
Promoters of a local almond industry claim it will produce nuts with a lower carbon footprint than the imported competition.
New Zealand’s 150 million tonne carbon headache
6 Apr 2022
How to best reduce New Zealand’s stockpile of more than 150 million carbon credits is one of the conundrums being worked through by the Climate Change Commission as it prepares its recommendations to government on future unit limits and price controls.
New Zealand shouldn't rule out nuclear power: IPCC review editor
5 Apr 2022
By Liz Kivi | Massey University Emeritus Professor Ralph Sims says New Zealand shouldn’t rule out nuclear power as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Kiwi climate expert says civil disobedience not enough
5 Apr 2022
Massey University's Professor Bruce Glavovic, a former IPCC lead author, says a campaign of civil disobedience being waged by scientists around the world demanding urgent action on climate change doesn’t go far enough. “It’s necessary but not sufficient.”
He Waka Eke Noa documents seriously flawed: experts
4 Apr 2022
Three leading agriculture experts say the He Waka Eke Noa documents are seriously flawed and need to be reworked to ensure any greenhouse gas levies in the agriculture sector are used for research and development relating to methane and nitrous oxide mitigation.
ACT takes aim at National's climate policies
4 Apr 2022
The ACT Party is using National's recruitment of the NZ Initiative's former senior economist and leading proponent of the "leave it to the ETS" school of thought, Matt Burgess, to criticise the opposition party's climate policies.
Government to set up advisory group on decarbonising aviation
1 Apr 2022
The New Zealand government is set to follow the UK’s example and set up a public – private advisory body focussed on decarbonising aviation.
Best by the rest...
1 Apr 2022
Our weekly roundup of notable climate change stories featured in the local media is back. Stuff’s Forever Project released the March/April issue of its magazine this week, a climate change commissioner on climate adaption, and why New Zealand shouldn’t be closing its railways.
Climate change policy adding to farmers' worries
31 Mar 2022
Worries about climate change policy impacting their business are adding to farmers’ stress, with the latest Rabobank survey finding 68% of farmers were “very concerned” about future climate change policy.
Time for cryptocurrency regulations: academics
31 Mar 2022
Aotearoa needs a future-facing regulatory framework to limit the use of energy-hungry cryptocurrencies, academics Nathan Cooper and Michael Dizon write in The Conversation.
Greenpeace calls on ECan to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser
30 Mar 2022
Greenpeace has launched a petition to push Environment Canterbury (ECan) to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, saying it is directly responsible for rising bowel cancer rates in the region as well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Aotearoa and Fiji commit to combatting climate change
30 Mar 2022
Fiji prime minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and New Zealand minister of foreign affairs Nanaia Mahuta yesterday signed a document pledging their countries to combatting climate change.
Canada lays out C$9.1 billion roadmap to meet 2030 climate targets
30 Mar 2022
Canada released its first real roadmap to meeting 2030 climate targets on Tuesday, laying out detailed plans and C$9.1 billion in new spending to cut planet-warming carbon emissions after years failing to meet its goals.
Super Fund teams up with Danes to explore massive offshore wind project
29 Mar 2022
The NZ Super Fund and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have formed a joint company to explore the feasibility of an offshore windfarm in Taranaki that could supply 11% of New Zealand's current electricity demand.
Windfarm upgrade on path to fast-tracked consent process
29 Mar 2022
Environment minister David Parker has accepted NZ Windfarms' application to refer the Te Rere Hau wind farm repowering project to an expert consenting panel for consideration under the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-track Consenting Act (FTCA).
A bold idea to stall climate crisis - build better trees
29 Mar 2022
Changing the genetic makeup of trees could supercharge their ability to suck up carbon dioxide. But are forests of frankentrees really a good idea?
NZ ETS could be a model for the world: Matt Burgess
28 Mar 2022
Last Friday was Matt Burgess’s last day as a senior economist at the NZ Initiative. His final report for the thinktank, Pretence of Necessity, is a strident argument for leaving all of the heavy lifting in reducing New Zealand’s emissions to the ETS.
The impact of deforestation goes beyond carbon emissions: new study
28 Mar 2022
The deforestation of tropical areas is even more impactful on the climate cycle than previously thought, according to a March 2022 study published in
Government slashes Tiwai smelter’s carbon allocation
25 Mar 2022
Cabinet has approved a decision to remove part of the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter’s free allocation of carbon credits – costing the owners at least $60 million a year.
Minister responds to PCE hydrogen letter
25 Mar 2022
Minister for the environment Megan Woods has thanked the parliamentary commissioner for the environment, Simon Upton, for his letter highlighting concerns about the development of a green hydrogen industry but says the government sees real potential for the gas in New Zealand's energy mix.
Apple using carbon-free aluminium
25 Mar 2022
Apple has announced that it will be using carbon-free aluminum in future products, with the latest iPhone SE in line to take advantage of the new environmentally friendly manufacturing process.
Taihoa on hydrogen plans: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
24 Mar 2022
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, has warned the government that the opportunity costs of developing a green hydrogen industry are likely to outweigh the benefits.
No carless days on horizon
23 Mar 2022
Minister of energy Megan Woods has ruled out an International Energy Agency (IEA) proposal for car free Sundays.
A third of drivers eyeing up EVs and hybrids as fuel prices skyrocket
22 Mar 2022
One third of respondents to a Consumer poll said they were considering switching to a hybrid or EV in response to increasing fuel prices.
Free public transport for Simplicity Kiwisaver employees
21 Mar 2022
Simplicity Kiwisaver has given its staff free public transport in an effort to cut the company’s carbon footprint.
Discounting our grandchildren’s wellbeing
18 Mar 2022
New Zealand’s current approach to evaluating the long-term environmental impacts of investments is sacrificing the wellbeing of our grandchildren for the benefit of those alive today, a select committee heard this week.
ETS auction spurs demand on spotmarket
17 Mar 2022
Buyers were out in force following yesterday’s ETS auction, with the CommTrade and Carbon Match platforms trading in excess of 600,000 NZUs before the close of trade.
Public consultation opens on climate-related disclosures
17 Mar 2022
The External Reporting Board (XRB) yesterday released part-two of the climate-related disclosure standards for public consultation.
ETS auction clears at $70.00
16 Mar 2022
THE first NZ ETS auction of the year cleared at $70.00 today.
Is the government sacrificing planetary gain to ease pump pain?
15 Mar 2022
If there’s a positive side to the skyrocketing price of fuel it’s that it will speed up the transition to a decarbonised transport sector, right? One of the country’s leading experts isn’t convinced petrol at $3 a litre was ever going to make much difference.
Back to the future: bottle drives on the horizon
14 Mar 2022
The government has announced plans for the reintroduction of a refundable deposit on drink containers – something not seen since the 1980s.
Renewable electricity generation hits 26-year high
11 Mar 2022
The share of electricity generated from renewable sources hit a 26-year high in the final quarter of 2021 after sizeable increases hydro and wind generation, according to data published today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Pacific climate response in question as NZ finance remains unclear
19 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | With New Zealand's $1.3 billion international climate finance commitment set to end with no clarity on what follows, the Auditor-General says oversight of that funding remains patchy and long-term outcomes are unclear.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
