Luxon noncommittal on 2030 climate target

Monday - Christopher Luxon was put in the hot seat on Q&A with Jack Tame over the weekend, with Tame grilling the prime minister about his party's promises to meet climate change targets.

Low-carbon campaigners call for rail-enabled ferries

Monday - As the country waits for the government to announce its plans for the interislander ferries, rail advocates fear that losing rail-enabled ferries could threaten the country’s ongoing ability to decarbonise transport.

Gisborne councillors fear loss of control over forestry rules

Monday - By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Gisborne district councillors fear a proposed nationwide environmental standard will prevent the council from creating and enforcing rules to safeguard Tairāwhiti's “unique terrain”.

Climate change, 1990s style. What have we learned?

Monday - By Robert McLachlan | COMMENT: In 1992 Statistics NZ called cars one of the biggest threats to the global environment. Thirty two years later New Zealand still has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world.

Waitangi Tribunal kicks off inquiry into climate change policy

Friday - By Liz Kivi | The Crown has contributed to worsening the climate crisis as well as exacerbating impacts on Māori communities, a Waitangi Tribunal panel heard this week.

Media round-up

Friday - In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Govt could face a hefty bill after new funding target agreed at COP29; the plan to relocate flood-prone Westport; and the UK is planning to slash climate pollution by 81%. Could NZ do the same?

Controversy around methane review heats up

Thursday - The government’s proposal to align methane targets with ‘no additional warming’ is self-serving, unfair to developing nations, and could ultimately harm New Zealand’s reputation and free trade agreements, according to a new report.

Public transport hike 'nail in the coffin' for emissions reductions

Thursday - The government’s plan to hike public transport fares will increase traffic, air pollution, and emissions, according to critics.

Labour slams National Party’s lack of action on climate

Thursday - Labour leader Chris Hipkins has attacked the National Party’s recent performance on climate, saying National has given up on climate action.

Green’s EV fringe-benefit tax bill voted down

Thursday - Green MP Julie-Anne Genter had hoped National might consider backing her EV fringe-benefit tax bill because it was once a policy in the party’s 2020 manifesto, but those hopes were dashed.

Investment lagging in climate action – report

Wednesday - A new report looks at the barriers to investment at the core of the priorities of COP29.

SolarZero in liquidation

Wednesday - Innovative solar energy pioneer SolarZero has been put into liquidation.

Plastics treaty needed to avert environmental and human health disasters

Wednesday - As global talks kick off aiming to finalise a treaty to combat plastic pollution, a New Zealand expert says that an ambitious and legally binding treaty is essential.

Board of inquiry appointed for waste-to-energy proposal

Wednesday - The Zero Waste Network has welcomed the government's appointment of experienced resource management commissioners for the Board of Inquiry into a waste incinerator proposal in Te Awamutu.

Exports risk multi-billion dollar hit if GMO rules deregulated

26 Nov 24 - New Zealand’s primary sector exports could drop by $10 billion to $20 billion a year if the government goes ahead with plans to change genetic modification rules, according to a new report.

Crown Minerals Bill progresses

26 Nov 24 - The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill is set to pass into law in the last parliamentary session of the year beginning December 10.

We can't afford to be complacent about the effects of tropical cyclones – experts

26 Nov 24 - A symposium currently taking place in Rotorua will bring together recent research on tropical cyclone ecology, with a special focus on the ecological impacts of last year's Cyclone Gabrielle.

United Nations carbon market rules agreed but concerns remain

25 Nov 24 - New carbon market rules agreed at the fractious UN climate summit will be a relief to New Zealand and Singapore, who were leading the negotiations, but concerns about greenwashing and disadvantaging...

Govt passes bill to keep farming emissions out of ETS

25 Nov 24 - The government quietly passed a bill to remove agricultural emissions from New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme on Friday, making no official statement announcing the law change.

More in the Carbon News In Depth Archive