Topics tagged with 'Agriculture'
Brazillian ambassdor snaps back on rain forest-for-fuel claims
3 Jun 2008
The Brazilian Ambassador to New Zealand Manoel Gomes-Pereira, tired of his country being used as a piñata in the rainforests debate, has taken the unusual step for a diplomat of making a spirited public defence of Brazil’s biofuels strategy.
Go carefully on soil carbon sequestration - officials
30 May 2008
Soil-storage of carbon mightn’t be the answer to farmers’ prayers for a solution to agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions, and New Zealand must use caution in any decision to move into soil credits, officials say.
Why Parker is enthisiastic about marine energy
30 May 2008
Average wave power can exceed 100 kilowatts per metre of wave crest length, on the southwest-facing coasts of New Zealand.
Govt funding for Kaipara harbour tidal energy devices
30 May 2008
A project to generate electricity from the tides in Kaipara Harbour is to receive a grant of $1.85 million from the Marine Energy Deployment Fund.
New Zealand food imports still the greenest option for UK
30 May 2008
By Angela van de Weerdhof. - New Zealand food producers should fare well when the European Union rings in carbon labeling on all imports.
Marks and Spencers' CSR leader to speak
30 May 2008
Mike Barry, head of CSR at Marks and Spencers is among a host of world leading academics and business people to address a forthcoming conference on changing land use in New Zealand.
Meridian fights local body troika's backdoor bid to ban windfarms
29 May 2008
Meridian Energy Ltd has launched an appeal against what it sees as a crimp on renewable energy zoning by the Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa District Councils.
Federated Farmers: We did not fund secret report
29 May 2008
Federated Farmers is strongly denying rumours that it is one of the secret funders of last month's NZIER report which predicts that the emissions trading scheme will cost New Zealand 22,000 jobs and billions of dollars.
Farmers: Green move to get agriculture into ETS early "not a runner"
29 May 2008
Farmers say a Green Party attempt to get them into the emissions trading scheme early as part of a deal for the party’s support for the climate change bill is not a political runner.
Farmers: It's not just us who need to adapt to predicted water shortages
29 May 2008
Federated Farmers spokesperson Frank Brenmuhl says the Ecoclimate report is an interesting and useful document but "the population needs to adapt, not just farmers."
True cost of personal carbon card plan revealed
29 May 2008
New reports in the UK say an MPs’ idea to issue every citizen there with a personal carbon card will cost up to NZ$6 billion to set up, and the same amount to run each year.
Comms company looks to install solar panels on customers' roofs
29 May 2008
Cox Communications has announced initiatives to cut energy costs that include adding solar electricity to its headquarters and communications system and increasing fuel efficiency in its fleet vehicles.
EXCLUSIVE: Greens push for early ETS entry for agriculture
28 May 2008
The Green Party is looking to force the Government to bring agriculture into the emissions trading scheme early.
New climate change report: Worse-ever droughts main NZ worry
28 May 2008
Fighting possible extreme droughts will be the main obstacle for farmers as a result of climate change in New Zealand but overall production is predicted to go up.
Windflow falls victim to noise issue
28 May 2008
Windflow Technology of Christchurch is the pre-eminent alternate energy production engineer in New Zealand. Yet its power generation wind turbines are being rejected on the environmental grounds that they make too much noise.
New US climate change bill will subsidise low-emission energy
28 May 2008
A newer version of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Stewardship Bill has been introduced which, when combined with an ETS bill, will incentivise new low-emission energy projects..
A changing climate is not all bad for agriculture
28 May 2008
A new report released by MAF shows that not all of the effects of climate change are bad for the agricultural sectors. In some areas, production will potentially increase.
Major policy clamp down on climate-warming illegal wood imports?
28 May 2008
The Cabinet has agreed in principle to mandatory labelling of all kwila products sold in New Zealand.
Parker's full speech on climate change effects and impacts assessment
28 May 2008
Here is the full speech of CLimate Change Issues Minister David Parker at the launch of new reports into the impacts of climate change.
Fish and Game: Let's audit farms to reflect realty in eco labels
28 May 2008
Fish and Game wants farmers to submit to eco-audits to back up "grand claims" made about New Zealand in eco marketing.
80,000 old containers leave life on the farm
28 May 2008
More than 80,000 old and unwanted agrichemical containers have been collected in the first year of a national rural recycling programme, thanks to the Agrecovery Foundation, according to Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.
More on-farm waste products to go into recovery scheme
28 May 2008
The Agrecovery rural recycling programme will be extended to other "on farm" waste products.
Greens reveal more of their conditions for ETS support
27 May 2008
The Greens have set out some of their policy demands for support of the emissions trading bill.
Low-carbon economy – millions of new jobs?
27 May 2008
Ethical Corporation- Europe's leaders say a low-carbon economy will create millions of new jobs.
Carbon labelling: Exports at risk from dirty dairying
27 May 2008
The Greens are warning that our dairy products will struggle to gain a European Union eco-label due to the impacts of dirty dairying on our rivers and lakes.
MAF: wood supply to jump about 3 million cu m a year
27 May 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has released new wood availability forecasts for the Central North Island that indicate a steady increase in supply for the region over the next 12 years.
Forum heads to the select committee
26 May 2008
A high-powered group of business and community leaders who back an emissions trading scheme will appear before the finance and expenditure select committee today to answer questions from MPs.
Nitrogen loaded Rotorua lakes showing improvement
26 May 2008
The health of Lake Okaro is improving and blue green algae levels are down, according to the latest report on Rotorua lakes water quality.
Tanzos: Landcorp should help sheep farmers avoid emissions costs
26 May 2008
Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos has called on Landcorp to support New Zealand sheep farmers by trialling organic sheep farming methods rather than leading the shift to dairy conversion.
EXCLUSIVE - National answers questions on ETS: No bill backing even if it gets all it wants
23 May 2008
In response to a series of questions from Carbon News, National says it will bring farmers into the emissions trading scheme, but won’t vote to pass it before the election – even if it can get all six of its key demands into the draft legislation.
Fiscal forecast: ETS will lose Govt $121m net in first commitment period
23 May 2008
The Government will allocate $2,151 million in emission credits and earn $2,030 million from them in the first Kyoto commitment period, making a net loss of $121 million.
Keep your hat on Mam: Queen invests in biggest wind turbine
23 May 2008
The Queen is investing is the world's biggest wind turbine.
ANALYSIS: National delivers heavy emitting friends into tougher hands
22 May 2008
National’s decision to abandon support for the emissions trading bill has effectively delivered more power to parties wanting a tougher line on heavy emitters.
Rural internet use jumps 97% in April as fuel prices rise
22 May 2008
Rural people are increasingly turning to the internet in response to rising fuel costs, according to rural broadband provider Farmside.
Behind Latin America's Food Crisis
22 May 2008
By Laura Carlsen , Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP) . -Even a year ago, few people would have predicted that a global food crisis would make headlines as one of the major concerns for the future of the world.
Ka kite Rio Tinto….kia ora ETS
21 May 2008
The Maori Party has launched a stinging attack on big businesses that it says are trying to bully the Government into transferring the cost of their greenhouse-gas emissions on to taxpayers, suggesting that the party is going to give the Government the numbers to pass the emissions trading scheme into law.
Get soil recognised as carbon storer, say scientists
21 May 2008
Scientists working on quantifying the carbon-storage potential of New Zealand soils are urging officials to start work now on getting soil recognised in the next round of climate-change protocols.
US' biggest coal burning power firm to turn cow dung into carbon credits
21 May 2008
The American Electric Power company is going to trap methane from cow manure in a bid to earn emission credits.
Google Earth powers up to show impacts of climate change
21 May 2008
Millions of Google Earth users around the world will be able to see how climate change could affect the planet and its people over the next century, along with viewing the loss of Antarctic ice shelves over the last 50 years, thanks to a new project launched yesterday.
Now its "go vege" and save the planet?
21 May 2008
A vegan group is now proclaiming a link between diet and climate change, and urging New Zealanders to "go vegie" and save the plant.
Anderton slams Key's inaccuracies on Fast Forward Fund
21 May 2008
Progressive leader and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton has made public background papers on the New Zealand Fast Forward Fund and called on National to reverse its pledge to axe it.
Fed Farmers pushes to have soil carbon sequestration included in ETS
20 May 2008
Federated Farmers is calling for a greater push toward getting soil recognised as a legitimate method of storing greenhouse gases, saying that it would be a boon to farmers struggling to deal with emission from animals.
Charles: We've got 18 months to stop climate change disaster
20 May 2008
The Prince of Wales has warned that the world faces a series of natural disasters within 18 months unless urgent action is taken to save the rainforests.
Changing climate threatens Europe's prized black truffles
20 May 2008
The black truffle, one of the most exclusive and expensive delicacies on the planet, is under threat from climate change.
Worried farmers: We want to be part of the ETS
19 May 2008
Farmers want to do their bit and be part of the emissions trading scheme, says Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen.
Canadian with Kiwi connections to take over Genesis
19 May 2008
Canadian New Zealander Albert Brantley is to be the new boss of Genesis Energy, operator of the Huntly power station and New Zealand’s largest electricity retailer.
30-year trial shows organic farming is the way to go
19 May 2008
A 30-year scientific trial shows that organic practices could counteract up to 40 per cent of global greenhouse gas output.
Regulating greenhouse gases will generate a lot of money -- who should get it?
19 May 2008
A US climate-change bill that has widespread support as it heads to the Senate floor will create an estimated $150 billion of new assets in the first year it takes effect.
Research links fertiliser to huge increase in nitrogen emissions
19 May 2008
Agricultural fertilisers washed into the ocean are causing an eightfold increase in emissions of one of the worst greenhouse gases, according to new research published in the journal Science.
The Global carbon trading market takes flight
16 May 2008
Paul Ezekiel travels regularly from his Manhattan office to emerging markets like China and Brazil, prospecting for clean energy projects.
‘Significant gaps’ in proposed approach to climate adaptation
Thu 10 Jul 2025
A new report into climate adaptation doesn’t suggest how development in high-risk areas should be avoided - an issue that needs urgent action with thousands of homes still being built in hazardous areas, according to the Environmental Defence Society.
NZ Post drops science-based climate target
Tue 8 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | NZ Post has dropped its science-based emissions reduction target of 42% by 2030 with no plans to replace it.
Nations agree to tax premium flyers, private jets
2 Jul 2025
A group of countries, including France, Kenya, Spain and Barbados, pledged on June 30 to tax premium-class flying and private jets in a bid to raise funds for climate action and sustainable development.
Markets aren't going to save us – Carr
Wed 9 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Consumerism is reaching its ecological and economic limits, and only systemic change - not market tweaks - can steer us away from climate catastrophe, according to former Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr.
Sustainability claims questioned as renewable diesel surges
14 May 2025
Critics are sceptical about industry claims of renewable diesel life-cycle greenhouse gas emission cuts and warn renewable diesel carbon releases will surge if sourcing is scaled up, triggering tropical deforestation as producers convert forests to energy crops, such as oil palm and soy.
Carbon price grinds higher - where to from now?
30 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | The carbon price has continued to grind slowly higher since this month’s failed auction, with prices at their highest since March, although still languishing well below this year’s auction floor price.
Around 250 million years ago, Earth was near-lifeless and locked in a hothouse state. Now scientists know why
Thu 10 Jul 2025
Scientists have long agreed this event was triggered by a sudden surge in greenhouse gases which resulted in an intense and rapid warming of Earth. But what has remained a mystery is why these extremely hot conditions persisted for millions of years.
Carbon auction fails again
18 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | As predicted, today’s carbon auction failed to attract any bidders, with the secondary market languishing at nearly 20% below the minimum auction price.
Climate backtracking could impact trade relationships: Labour
Wed 9 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | Labour Party Energy spokesperson Megan Woods says the government needs to be upfront about how its energy policies will impact trade relationships, following revelations New Zealand was warned by other governments that backtracking on climate policies jeopardised its membership of an international alliance.
A credible UN carbon market needs rules that count – we’ve just set them
11 Jun 2025
COMMENT: The broad standards for a more ambitious market are now in place. But without a steady flow of investment, this progress will remain largely on paper.
Common low-grade clay strengthens low-carbon concrete
5 Jun 2025
Media release | Engineers at RMIT University have converted low-grade clay into a high-performance cement supplement, opening a potential new market in sustainable construction materials.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Could an unexplained carbon forest sink solve govt’s billion-dollar climate woes?
23 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | A groundbreaking study shows that New Zealand’s native forests are absorbing far more carbon dioxide than previously thought.
Fast, sustained phase-out of fossil fuels: best-performing countries in coal and transport sectors
Thu 10 Jul 2025
By Robert McLachlan | It’s true that climate change is getting worse – it will continue to get worse until emissions fall to near zero. But is action on phasing out fossil fuels really stalling?
Key orange roughy population on verge of collapse, govt considers closure
Wed 9 Jul 2025
Media release - Deep Sea Conservation Coalition | New data reveals that New Zealand’s main orange roughy fishery, accounting for half of the country’s total catch, is on the brink of collapse, with one model showing it may have reached that point already, and the government’s considering closing it.
Regions in China take steps to ensure power supply amid heatwave-driven record demand
Thu 10 Jul 2025
China is battling intense heatwaves across multiple regions in recent days, with temperatures surpassing 40C in some areas, triggering yellow heat warnings and high-temperature health risk warnings.
Latest trawl bycatch numbers 'a grim wake-up call'
24 Jun 2025
Media release – Greenpeace | The latest fisheries bycatch data paints a grim picture, with trawlers hauling up thousands of kilograms of coral and killing hundreds of fur seals and seabirds over a 12 month period.
EU countries seek more cuts to deforestation rules
Wed 9 Jul 2025
From December, the world-first deforestation law will require operators placing goods including soy, beef and palm oil, onto the EU market to provide proof their products did not cause deforestation.
NZ quits Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance
25 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | The New Zealand government has quietly withdrawn from an ambitious coalition to phase out fossil fuels, with a $200 million publicly-funded subsidy for new gas fields the latest policy in conflict with that goal.
Watts talks big on energy reform, but barriers persist
29 May 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Energy and Climate Change minister Simon Watts says the government is doubling down on efforts to boost renewable energy generation, streamline regulation, and drive private sector investment as New Zealand faces mounting energy security and affordability challenges.
Net-zero much cheaper than thought for UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly
Wed 9 Jul 2025
Reaching net-zero will be much cheaper for the UK government than previously expected – and the economic damages of unmitigated climate change far more severe.
Melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash wave of volcanic eruptions, study says
Wed 9 Jul 2025
Research in Chile suggests the climate crisis makes eruptions more likely and explosive, and warns of Antarctica risk.
Biodiversity market needs govt regulation to avoid fraud risk
17 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Participants have applauded the government’s pilot programme for New Zealand’s voluntary biodiversity market, but an expert says the emerging market needs better regulation to avoid reputational risk and fraud.
Methanex closure comes early this year
14 May 2025
The almost-now-annual closure of Methanex has come earlier this year, giving more confidence that the electricity system will get through the winter without a fuel shortfall.
Electric firebricks: decarbonising high-temperature industrial heat
13 Jun 2025
By Ian Mason | A new technology could offer a more cost-effective solution than hydrogen to decarbonise one ‘hard-to-abate’ sector of New Zealand’s economy, as well as having ample potential for demand response as the electricity grid becomes more renewable.
90% of NZers expect more extreme weather disasters because of climate change
23 Jun 2025
A new climate change poll from AMI, State, and NZI shows New Zealanders are expecting more extreme weather events as a result of climate change.
Will NZ walk away from the Paris Agreement?
20 Dec 2024
By Geoff Bertram | COMMENT: Unless the government can find very cheap offshore mitigation, the temptation to walk away from its Paris Agreement obligations may well be too strong to resist for a coalition government focused on fiscal austerity.
In Latin America, the energy transition stirs a rise in human rights lawsuits
Tue 8 Jul 2025
A new report shows that more than half of the 95 energy transition-related lawsuits recorded globally since 2009 took place in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Clear-sighted view to trade-offs crucial to reimagining our relationship with the land
Mon 7 Jul 2025
By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: New Zealand could see a 70% drop in the value of dairy land if we pursue our emissions targets for agriculture, according to a new report.
Unlocking economic growth on conservation land
Wed 9 Jul 2025
Media release - New Zealand Government | A targeted effort to reduce the backlog of applications for use of conservation land is accelerating economic growth without compromising conservation values, says Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.
Carbon credits stockpile down: latest figures
Mon 7 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | The number of NZUs held in private accounts, often called "the stockpile", dropped 11 million tonnes in the past year, according to the latest figures.
NZ's latest climate target 'weak' – Climate Action Tracker
24 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's new international climate target to 2035 is weak, and could even allow for higher emissions than the 2030 target, according to a global scientific project that tracks government climate action.
Change in Southern Ocean structure could have climate implications
Mon 7 Jul 2025
Media release – Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC) | Satellite data processing algorithms developed by ICM-CSIC have played a crucial role in detecting this significant shift in the Southern Hemisphere, which could accelerate the effects of climate change.
Nelson adopts ambitious target to slash emissions
Tue 8 Jul 2025
By Max Frethey, Local Democracy Reporter | After some of the most passionate debate seen in the chamber this triennium, Nelson City Council has adopted the more ambitious of two community greenhouse gas targets.
Fight over coal mine heats up
30 May 2025
Forest & Bird is calling on the government to create a new scientific reserve covering the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast, which would stop a fast-tracked coal mine.
Microplastics found in sand on dozens of NZ beaches
4 Jun 2025
Scientists have extracted microplastics from the sand of 22 beaches from the Far North to Banks Peninsula.
Türkiye's Parliament adopts first-ever climate law
Wed 9 Jul 2025
Promising a wide range of provisions and increased vigilance against climate change, the new law is to provide action plans on a national and local scale, while bolstering Türkiye’s 2053 climate goals and protecting the country from environmental disasters.
North Canterbury locals get say over huge solar farm
Thu 10 Jul 2025
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter | North Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on a proposed 180 hectare solar farm on a property near their village.
UK: Thousands lobby MPs to demand climate action
Thu 10 Jul 2025
More than 5,000 people from across the UK arrived in Westminster on Wednesday to meet their MPs and demand urgent climate action to protect their communities.
Straterra has a new name: the New Zealand Minerals Council
16 Apr 2025
Media release | Straterra has been renamed as New Zealand Minerals Council, says chief executive Josie Vidal.
Clean energy's political test looms now that Trump bill is law
Thu 10 Jul 2025
The US 2026 midterms will test clean energy's uncertain political salience as advocates attempt to tether it to economic matters that voters prioritise.
MethaneSAT loss ‘a tragedy’
3 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | The disappearance of a methane-tracking satellite, which was backed by $29 million of government funding, is a tragic loss according to one astrophysicist, who is calling for a review to understand how New Zealand blew past multiple red flags about its operation.
Green budget 'ludicrous la-la land' – govt
15 May 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the budget was "clown show economics" and an "absolute circus".
Kiwi ‘smart panel’ startup aiming to reduce energy bills and emissions
4 Jul 2025
NZ start-up Basis this week launched an ‘intelligent’ panel to replace traditional electrical switchboards in homes, which it says can save the average home $1,200 NZD annually on bills and lead to lower emissions.
United Nations carbon market rules agreed but concerns remain
25 Nov 2024
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 nature-based solutions remain.
Media round-up
4 Jul 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Proposed changes to forestry rules won’t solve the ‘slash’ problem; New Plymouth District Council officially opposes seabed mining; and is local media coverage of climate change lacking when reporting extreme weather events?
Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ blows US emissions goal by 7bn tonnes
Tue 8 Jul 2025
President Donald Trump’s dismantling of climate policy means the US will add an extra 7bn tonnes of emissions to the atmosphere from now until 2030, compared to meeting its former climate pledge under the Paris Agreement.
Waste Levy risks becoming ‘slush fund’ under proposed changes – Commissioner
5 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Proposed changes to New Zealand's waste legislation risk undermining public trust in the waste levy scheme, according to Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton.
NZ urgently needs to change approach to flood management - experts
2 Jul 2025
Experts say climate change is squarely to blame for flooding in Nelson - but isn’t getting the media attention it deserves - and the country urgently needs to change its approach to flood management in the face of climate change.
UN University report warns against carbon credits from REDD, tree planting, and improved forest management
13 Jun 2025
But the report stops short of recommending banning the trade in carbon temporarily stored in trees.
For the first time, China invests more in wind and solar than coal overseas
29 May 2025
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, long derided for its heavy carbon footprint, was dominated by wind and solar power projects for the first time from 2022 to 2023, according to a new analysis. But coal plants financed in earlier years are still coming online.
