New Zealand: All stories
'Green' cement step closer to cutting emissions
20 Nov 2019
Scientists have developed a “green” cement that could go a long way to cutting the construction industry’s emissions and making it more sustainable.
DIRTY SECRETS: Space camera tells tale of shipping pollution
20 Nov 2019
Exhausts from dirty heavy oils used in ships leave a telltale trail of such dense cloud that they can be tracked from space.
Crisis might have triggered faster wind speeds
20 Nov 2019
The global climate crisis could lead to more renewable electricity being generated by spurring faster wind speeds for the growing number of windfarms.
We're different from them, say pig farmers
19 Nov 2019
Pig farmers say their industry is responsible for only a fraction of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and should be treated differently from other agricultural businesses.
Even Nobel Prize winners can get it wrong
19 Nov 2019
William Nordhause was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics. But his predictions of what global heating will cost us are dangerously at odds with the science.
Treasury casts eye over emissions changes
18 Nov 2019
Greenhouse gas emissions from farming will fall 12 per cent by the middle of the century even without a carbon price, Treasury says.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ...
18 Nov 2019
Anyone with an interest in climate change and carbon trading is probably flat-out trying to put together submissions on a host of Government consultations.
Jet stream battle raging above our heads
18 Nov 2019
When prolonged periods of severe weather strike, two things often get the blame these days: climate change and the jet stream.
National Party applauds farmers' pine protest
15 Nov 2019
The National Party says it supports farmers who marched on Parliament yesterday demanding a halt to the planting of carbon forests on productive farmland.
IEA points finger at gas-guzzling SUVs
15 Nov 2019
The world’s thirst for oil will continue to grow over the next two decades, with climate-damaging emissions climbing until at least 2040, the IEA says.
Young campaigners see nation adopt carbon laws
14 Nov 2019
New Zealand’s zero-carbon legislation becomes law today.
Incineration no solution to plastic waste crisis
14 Nov 2019
Since the Chinese market closed, 58 per cent of New Zealand’s plastic waste now goes to Asian countries with weak regulations and high rankings as global sources of marine plastic pollution.
Bigger hurricanes are now more damaging
14 Nov 2019
The biggest and most damaging hurricanes are now three times more frequent than they were 100 years ago, say researchers.
RMA could ease path of climate-change work
13 Nov 2019
Climate-saving projects could get an easier run under the Resource Management Act, says a Government-commissioned panel of experts.
Farm protest march misleading, say foresters
13 Nov 2019
Forestry bodies say the organisers of a protest in Wellington tomorrow over the planting of forests on farmland are misleading the public.
Mercury gives green light to country's biggest windfarm
13 Nov 2019
Mercury is going ahead with plans to build the country’s largest windfarm.
New battery could slash cost of e-cars
13 Nov 2019
A new battery technology that could significantly reduce the price of electric cars and home battery systems has taken a major step towards commercialisation.
Minister questions forest conversion claims
12 Nov 2019
The Government denies large areas of productive farmland are being converted to forestry as the country tries to offset its greenhouse gas emissions.
'Catastrophic' bushfires sound alarm bells in NZ
12 Nov 2019
Experts planning for increased fire risk in New Zealand as the planet warms are looking across the Tasman in alarm at “catastrophic” fire conditions.
Drivers love their e-cars, says BMW
12 Nov 2019
BMW has called for European policymakers to roll out electric vehicles on a massive scale, saying its customers are turning to e-cars - and loving them.
Should we be tougher on carbon risk disclosure?
11 Nov 2019
The Government is asking the public whether companies should be forced to disclose their carbon and climate risk.
New party backs emissions pricing
11 Nov 2019
A new environment-based political party supports emissions pricing, wants the Climate Change Commission to set the methane reduction target, and says it would be reluctant to get rid of a ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ...
11 Nov 2019
Last week’s passing of the zero-carbon act doesn’t mean an end to climate-change-related rallies in Wellington.
That's the act done ... now on with the changes
8 Nov 2019
The zero carbon act is law; bring on reform of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Upton wants more bite for environment reporting
8 Nov 2019
The Government should have to at least respond to official reports on the state of New Zealand’s environment and climate, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Wall Street increasingly weighs climate risks
8 Nov 2019
In the wake of two years of wildfires in California, Wall Street is incorporating a new risk metric when evaluating companies: climate resiliency.
MPs rubbish call on overseas emissions
7 Nov 2019
Parliament has roundly rejected an attempt to get overseas emission reductions given the same weight as New Zealand projects under new climate legislation.
Parker opens green door with Costa Rica
7 Nov 2019
Trade and environment minister David Parker has met with his counterpart from Costa Rica in China this week as the two countries move towards a climate trade agreement.
Industry sees process heat alternatives
7 Nov 2019
New research shows how everything from wood to ultraviolet light and ultrasound can replace fossil-fuel-intensive heat sources in industrial processes.
Mission Methane will be run from our very own space base
7 Nov 2019
The Government is paying $26m for a ringside seat to an international space mission helping to tackle climate change.
NZ scientists back global climate statement
6 Nov 2019
Leading New Zealand climate scientist Professor James Renwick says an 11,000-strong global statement by scientists warning of “untold suffering” as the climate changes should be taken seriously.
OPINION: UK farmers are the best
6 Nov 2019
BY JOE STANLEY | As a cattle farmer I come under constant criticism, but UK livestock production is among the most sustainable in the world.
Behind the wheel of a hydrogen car
6 Nov 2019
Why is the clean, green hydrogen technology lagging far behind the hybrid and all-electric sectors of the car industry?
Volvo lands biggest order for e-buses
6 Nov 2019
Volvo Buses has received the largest single order for electric buses in Europe.
Kiwi company pushes one-click carbon offsetting
5 Nov 2019
CarbonClick plans to be as much of a disrupter for carbon offsetting as Xero has been for accounting.
Government happy with ZCB direction
5 Nov 2019
The Government intends sticking with the recommendations of the select committee when the zero-carbon bill comes back before Parliament this afternoon.
Staunch Nats vow to change zero-carbon bill
4 Nov 2019
National still hopes to drive through changes to the zero-carbon bill before it is passed this week.
Foresters query claims over dairy land sales
4 Nov 2019
Forest owners are challenging claims that vast areas of productive farmland are being turned into carbon forests by foreign investors.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ...
4 Nov 2019
It’s the climate week in Parliament, with the zero-carbon bill expected to pass by Thursday and amendments to the Emissions Trading Scheme getting their first airing.
Government wants info on biofuture of wood
1 Nov 2019
Government plans for a report into the potential to use wood to make bioproducts is being hailed by those pushing for a biofutures industry.
GAME ON: New vid pits players against climate apocalypse
1 Nov 2019
A new multiplatform video game aimed at raising awareness of the climate crisis features a group of refugees trying to survive as their world changes.
Directors learn climate denial no legal defence
31 Oct 2019
Denying humans are changing the climate will be no defence for directors facing lawsuits for failing to deal with carbon risk, businesses are being told.
ETS fertiliser claims wrong, says Ravensdown
31 Oct 2019
The Emissions Trading Scheme is over-estimating the amount of nitrous oxide being released as a result of fertiliser use – and that could cost the sector money when it starts paying for emissions, says fertiliser company Ravensdown.
Big farm subsidy won't work, says Super Fund
30 Oct 2019
The Government’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from farming won’t work while the sector is being given a 95 per cent subsidy, say the Guardians of the New Zealand Super Fund.
Flying less plays a small but positive part in climate fight
30 Oct 2019
As the notion of flight shame is taking off around the world, emissions from aviation are making a small but growing contribution to global warming.
Opinions side with charging for farm emissions
29 Oct 2019
A majority of people and organisations making submissions on whether agricultural emissions should be in the Emissions Trading Scheme say price-based mechanisms are the way to go.
FACT CHECK: Is that right, Paula?
29 Oct 2019
National Party deputy leader and former climate minister Paula Bennett says when it was in power, her party stabilised greenhouse gas emissions, while under this Government they will keep rising until 2025. Is she right?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ...
29 Oct 2019
It’s a quiet week on the political front, but a busy week for green finance.
EDITORIAL: A Shaw thing
25 Oct 2019
By publisher ADELIA HALLETT | Climate minister James Shaw, take a bow - you deserve five minutes in the sun for doing what none of your seven predecessors did.
Petition latest bid to stop climate torts bill
Wed 29 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate activist and iwi leader Mike Smith has launched a petition calling on the Government to abandon its legislation to bar climate torts, marking the latest step in his campaign against a bill criticised as shielding major emitters from legal accountability.
Govt’s first post-ban offshore exploration permit draws backlash
Today 11:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has approved the first offshore petroleum exploration permit since repealing the 2018 ban. But lawyers say the decision raises 'serious' legal questions, as seemingly at odds with guidance from the country's highest court.
Study outlines methane-cutting options for NZ livestock
21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Breeding, feed and forage strategies could play a key role in reducing methane emissions from New Zealand's grazing livestock, with researchers concluding that a combination of approaches will be needed to achieve meaningful cuts.
'Terrible result': Emissions barely budged in 2024
5 Jun 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged in 2024, falling by 0.03%, despite the economy shrinking by ten times that amount during the same period, according to new data.
Rail revival key to reducing transport emissions: new strategy
Today 11:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Future is Rail has launched an election manifesto setting out a national strategy for the incoming Government to rebuild New Zealand's passenger and freight rail network, with proposals ranging from overnight train services to nationwide electrification.
National deer management strategy urgently needed to halt 'catastrophe' for native forests
Mon 27 Jul 2026
Scientists are calling for an urgent national deer management strategy, with deer numbers now at unsustainable levels and decimating native forests.
NZ Steel closes in on first heat from electric arc furnace
Today 11:30am
By Oli Lewis | The first truckloads of scrap steel are being delivered to New Zealand Steel as the company works through the final stages of a significant emissions reduction project.
