Topics tagged with 'Energy'
Red tape consent process may still sink solar hot water incentive system
26 May 2008
By Angela van de Weerdhof .- A bureaucratic resource consent process may still stifle a new bid to have home owners take up grants for solar water heating.
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.
MOODY'S REPORT: ETS could affect heavy emitters' cedit ratings
26 May 2008
Ratings agency Moody's says the European Union's ETS actions could profoundly affect the operations of some of the region's most emissions inensive industries.
New report: Global warming could cost US $3.8 trillion a year by 2100
26 May 2008
A new report says doing nothing on global warming will cost the U.S. economy more than 3.6 percent of GDP — or US$3.8 trillion annually (in today’s dollars) — by 2100.
Greenpeace: Good initiatives at risk under polluter subsidy plans
26 May 2008
Greenpeace welcomes today's Green Party announcement that all state houses will be properly insulated within five years but warns initiatives like this could be at risk if big polluters get their way.
Continued tax incentives for renewables expected to boost growth 20%
26 May 2008
The US Senate has passed a bil extending tax credits- and authorizing US$2 billion in new bonds to boost renewable energy development.
Bullish carbon prices expected to continue
26 May 2008
Broker IDEAcarbon expects market billishness to continue.
Europe's three biggest emitting companies named
26 May 2008
The three biggest emitters in the EU's emissions tradinge scheme have been revealed.
Financiers: Is Kyoto factored into Contact Energy?
23 May 2008
Representatives of several international financial services organisations with operations in New Zealand believe that the value of the climate change regime has not been factored into the value of Contact Energy.
Australia debates leaving petrol out of ETS
23 May 2008
A major debate is underway in Australia on leaving petrol out of its emissions trading scheme.
Cullen quizzed on multi-billion ETS surplus from sale of credits
23 May 2008
The Government will make a net revenue gain from the emissions trading system of up to about $159 million a year between 2013 and 2018 - $795 million over five years - and "perhaps" $1b to $1.5 b a year out to 2030.
Greens get warm, energy-efficient houses in Budget win
23 May 2008
Almost $100 million has been secured in the Budget by the Green Party fore measures which includ increasing the energy-efficiency of New Zealand homes, making it the party’s largest-ever Budget package.
Now for the hydrogen powered cellphone
23 May 2008
The French have invented a hydrogen powered cellphone
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.
BP: We've slashed emissions 24% below 2003 levels
23 May 2008
BP says it has cut its GHG emissions 24% below their 2003 level.
Business-as-usual Budget for climate change
22 May 2008
Today’s Budget will not be the big-bang for the environment that Australians experienced with their Budget last week, but will contain some steady-as-she-goes policy continuation.
Govt's moratorium won't affect electricity supply - Caygill
22 May 2008
A moratorium on new thermal power plants is unlikely to affect security of supply, says the Electricity Commission.
Carbon price climbs again today on back of firm energy markets
22 May 2008
Carbon prices climbed again today on the back of firm energy markets, especially oil and the projected undersupply of CERs going forward.
UN world climate change leaders to address business people at Auckland
22 May 2008
Two of the world’s foremost authorities on managing climate change will be joined by the Prime Minister Helen Clark and New Zealand business leaders at Auckland events to mark World Environment Day on June 4.
Delaying the ETS risks electricity security , delays to win energy investment
22 May 2008
Delaying the Emissions Trading Scheme risks discouraging investment in new electricity generation, says Gerry Coates, Chair of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association.
New research: Green labels have major impact consumer behaviour
22 May 2008
Certain labels and certifications that garner higher awareness and understanding, in part driven by their longevity in the marketplace, are the most impactful to consumers, according to Natural Marketing Institute’s 2007 LOHAS Consumer Trends Database.
Symbolic Australia emission credit trade at $19 paves way for new ETS market
22 May 2008
Australia's first symbolic carbon trade has put a symbolic price of $19 a tonne on emissions.
The UK carbon label threat and opportunity: 70% of shoppers notice it
22 May 2008
Seven out of 10 consumers in the UK say new carbon labels on food are making them more aware of the environmental impact of the products and services they are buying.
Brownlee - thermal generation shows need for power saving campaign
22 May 2008
National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Energy Minister David Parker should be thinking seriously about ordering a public power saving campaign for winter.
Former electricity executive new Commerce Commission CEO
22 May 2008
Nick Hill has been appointed new CEO of the Commerce Commission .
200 local authorities targeted for NZ$150m power bill cut, emissions fall
22 May 2008
The UK's Carbon Trust now working with more than 200 local authorities to cut carbon and slash energy bills.
Smith: Labour needs to come clean on multi-billion dollar ETS windfall profits
21 May 2008
National yesterday again challenged the Government to release the official papers that reveal just how much the Government is set to profit from the emissions trading scheme, saying it is "apalled" it has been denied leave to table official documents in Parliament.
Major move to shift 30% of inter-regional freight to sea
21 May 2008
The Government has announced a $36 million investment to revitalise coastal shipping, to slash land transport fuel use and emissions.
Governor vetos third bid to expand Kansas coal plant
21 May 2008
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius yesterday vetoed the Legislature's third attempt at allowing expansion of a coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas
Mallard cites sustainability in potential $200m fashion market.
21 May 2008
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard says Government initiatives and regulatory drivers, like the Emissions Trading Scheme and the New Zealand Energy Strategy, and changing consumer behaviour mean that New Zealand businesses do need to “get real” and become sustainable.
Unlike Kiwis, four in 10 Tokyo residents won't sacrifice to fight climate change
21 May 2008
More than four in 10 Tokyo residents -- 41.6 percent -- say they "don't want to sacrifice a convenient lifestyle to prevent global warming," according to the poll results published recently by Japanese advertising agency Hakuhodo.
One, two, tree … big emitter counts on the children
20 May 2008
One of our biggest carbon emitters is launching a campaign to get New Zealanders to reduce energy use – and is using children to do it.
Electricity market: Prices continue to rise
20 May 2008
Electricity prices continued to rise last week.
Who pays for climate change?
20 May 2008
OPINION: New Zealand Centre for Political Research.- Last week the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment came out in support of the Government's Emissions Trading Bill as the gateway to a 'carbon-constrained future':
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.
Kyoto carbon trade hits one million tonnes a day
19 May 2008
The European Climate Exchange says its futures trade in carbon emissions credits from developing countries based on a UN scheme has hit a million tonnes a day after launching the contracts in March.
Trading in the dark is no place for the nervous
19 May 2008
Carbon may well be the world’s fastest growing traded commodity, and will one day be the biggest, but right now it’s no place for the faint-hearted, as the ever-growing ranks of carbon traders are finding.
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.
ETS will trim Kyoto bill $909 million, pushes Key further out on policy tightrope
16 May 2008
The emissions trading scheme will avoid a 15 to 50 million tonne rise in emissions between 2008 and 2012, Climate Change Issues Minister David Parker has told Parliament, in what appears to a ground preparing statement ahead of National leader John Key’s ETS policy announcement this Sunday.
NZ energy-miser motor could lead the world
16 May 2008
A revolutionary New Zealand-designed electric motor with the potential to save huge amounts of energy and carbon has won $1.75 million of government research funding.
Gas from our coal could provide energy for 1600 years
16 May 2008
A report by New Zealand’s former technical supremo on coal, Peter Toynbee, indicates that New Zealand is in a powerful position in regard to coal-generated energy.
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.
Japan extends $4b helping hand for climate change projects
16 May 2008
Japan plans to extend up to 500 billion yen ($US4.8 billion worth of low-interest loans to developing countries over the next five years to help them fight global warming.
US shows huge jump in wind installations
16 May 2008
More than 1400MW of new wind energy capacity, costing $3 billion, was installed in the US in the first quarter of 2008 – up from just 124MW in the same period of 2007, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
Bluffing over aluminium: EU says post-2012 ETS impact may be 'negligible'
15 May 2008
While Rio Tinto talks of its Bluff aluminium smelter being put on a path to closure by the proposed emissions trading scheme, the European Union says the effects of including the sector in its scheme “may well be negligible” once a new post-Kyoto international agreement is in place.
Remote island runs on wind power, even when all is still
15 May 2008
A small Norwegian island testing a way to store wind-generated energy for calm days may have found the answer to the problem of wind-less days.
Greens leader slams Rudd’s budget boost for climate change
15 May 2008
The Rudd government's first budget, which earmarked $2.3 billion for climate change action, has not impressed Australian Greens.
OPINION: Wind Farms: Powering Future or Destroying Past?
15 May 2008
By the Save Central Group.- The region of Otago is in a state of significant upheaval over the giant turbines of Meridian’s Project Hayes and TrustPower’s Mahinerangi Wind Farm.
Simon Marsters appointed to Solid Energy board
15 May 2008
Simon Marsters, an Auckland-based chemical engineer and former General Manager of Imerys Tableware Division Asia, has been appointed to the board of Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd by the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises.
Australia signs $2.3b cheque for climate change action
14 May 2008
Australia is to spend $2.3 billion on a climate-change strategy, including $68 million for a domestic emissions trading scheme and $21.8m on the establishment of a Department of Climate Change.
Govt unveils National Adaptation Framework
Thu 16 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts has revealed the first actions under New Zealand’s National Adaptation Framework, which sets out the Government's approach to the rising risks from natural hazards such as floods and storms.
All carrot, no stick for farmers on methane
Fri 17 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | COMMENT: The abandonment of methane emissions pricing and the adoption of a weaker target is effectively the last nail in the coffin of the historic cross-parliamentary consensus embedded in the Zero Carbon Act 2019.
NZ needs to be part of a regional SAF strategy: Z, Air NZ
9 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand needs to be part of a regional strategic approach to sourcing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with domestic production less the aim than ensuring access to the fuel from one of a number of strategically positioned bio-refineries around the world.
Air NZ inks deal for its first internationally verified carbon credits
9 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Air New Zealand has committed to buying 8000 tonnes of carbon removals by 2030, in partnership with local native forest investment platform My Native Forest.
NZ not 'holding the line' on wilding pine management – experts
Wed 15 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand is no longer “holding the line” against invasive threats, with the country’s scale, remoteness and rugged terrain making control costly and complex, one expert has said ahead of this week's Wilding Pines Conference.
Researchers say sealing old oil wells with bio-oil from crop waste is a dual carbon-removal solution
19 Sep 2025
A new analysis shows that oil made from corn husks, wood chips, and other waste could plug greenhouse gas-belching abandoned oil wells while sequestering carbon for about $152 per ton.
Broker predicts all this year’s carbon auctions will fail
10 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Marex New Zealand is forecasting that the government will sell no ‘pollution permits’ at the NZU auctions this year, with a significant gap continuing between secondary market prices and this year’s $68 auction floor price.
UN agency says CO2 levels hit record high last year, causing more extreme weather
Fri 17 Oct 2025
Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the highest amount on record last year, soaring to a level not seen in human civilisation and “turbo-charging” the Earth’s climate and causing more extreme weather.
Will govt’s light touch approach lead to higher carbon prices?
3 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Carbon market watchers are hoping the government’s plan for the electricity sector will eventually lead to higher carbon prices, with the secondary market still trading sideways for the longest time in its history.
Electricity to remain in ETS
1 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The Government has rejected Frontier Economics' recommendation that electricity should be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme.
The merchants of doubt are back
3 Sep 2025
OPINION: If you don’t follow climate policy closely, you might not know that the Trump administration is launching an effort to overturn one of the most fundamental pillars of American climate policy.
Milestone for NZ Steel electrification
10 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | NZ Steel has passed an installation milestone for its new electric arc furnace, which will reduce emissions from the Glenbrook steel mill site by as much as one megatonne (1Mt) a year.
UN limits staff at COP30 climate summit over accommodation concerns
19 Sep 2025
High hotel prices for Brazil's COP30 climate summit in November have prompted the United Nations to urge its staff to limit attendance, while government delegations are still scrambling to find rooms within their budgets.
From nuisance to crisis: New report on pest wasps In Aotearoa
24 Sep 2025
Media release: Moths and Butterflies NZ Trust | Just published is the Final Report of the Pest Wasps Survey carried out by the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust (MBNZT) offering a comprehensive look at New Zealanders’ awareness, experiences, and attitudes toward wasps and the growing ecological, health, and social issues associated with them.
Difficult trade-offs ahead for climate adaptation
Fri 17 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | While climate impacts are already here, bringing the urgent need to accelerate effective adaptation now, the Government's newly minted adaptation framework still leaves important questions unanswered about who will pay.
NZ marine heatwaves could double in intensity under high-emissions pathway
Thu 16 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New projections show marine heatwaves will grow more intense around the North Island and more frequent around the South Island as the climate warms – raising risks for fisheries, aquaculture, coastal ecosystems and tourism.
World falling far behind deforestation goals with farms and fires driving loss, report says
Wed 15 Oct 2025
The report said the world permanently lost 8.1 million hectares (20 million acres) of forest, an area about the size of England, in 2024 alone.
‘Damp squib’ – Govt energy plan slammed for locking in fossil fuels
2 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Critics across business, climate groups and the opposition say the Government’s electricity reforms duck structural change, double down on LNG and gas, and offer little relief for soaring power prices – warning of an “expensive white elephant", deeper energy poverty and a missed chance to scale renewables.
RMA to speed up fossil fuel consents
18 Aug 2025
By Liz Kivi | An energy lobby group has welcomed a last-minute amendment to the RMA that puts fossil fuels on the same footing as renewables, however a sustainable energy expert says the move “beggars belief.”
Climate investment is only growth opportunity of 21st century, says leading economist
Wed 15 Oct 2025
Investment in climate action is the economic growth story of the 21st century, while growth fuelled by fossil fuels is futile because the damage it causes ends in self-destruction, the economist Nicholas Stern has said.
Where’s Watts? Climate Minister no-show at climate conference
Thu 16 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Opposition parties have slammed the Climate Change Minister’s failure to front up to a major international conference in Christchurch, saying it shows that climate adaptation is a low priority for the National Party.
Climate credibility gap widening for Aussie firms
1 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Australian public companies’ climate change commitments are in retreat, reflecting difficulty in achieving stated targets and increased fossil use, but not because of any pressure to make less effort, according to a study of major companies’ ESG reporting.
Coal imports up 650%
12 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams and Liz Kivi | Coal imports are up 650% as generators stockpile the most polluting fossil fuel ahead of next winter.
Hiringa eyes green methanol plant near Whanganui
29 Jul 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Green hydrogen pioneer Hiringa Energy is deep in planning to develop an “eight-to-nine figure” methanol plant near Whanganui, using a combination of biomass and hydrogen produced using renewable energy.
Study warns climate leadership falling short in NZ
1 Oct 2025
Media release - Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland | Research suggests New Zealand’s climate leadership is falling short, with current adaptation efforts focused on property and cost-cutting rather than protecting communities.
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.
Judge dismisses suit by young climate activists against Trump’s pro-fossil fuel policies
Fri 17 Oct 2025
Plaintiffs had ‘overwhelming evidence’ of climate crisis but a court injunction would be ‘unworkable’, ruling says.
'Non-negotiable' – EU carbon pricing to hit Kiwi exporters, expert warns
11 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | High carbon exports will inevitably face a high carbon tax at the EU border, possibly in the next five years, and high methane agricultural products might not be exempt, an international expert told a local audience yesterday.
Deep sea mining threatens sharks, rays and ghost sharks
6 Oct 2025
Mining the world’s deep seas for metals will likely threaten many species of sharks, rays and chimaeras (ghost sharks), according to researchers.
Govt promises ‘earlier action’ in response to Commission’s warning climate targets at risk
Fri 17 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government says it will “explore opportunities for earlier action” ahead of the third Emissions Reduction Plan, and has committed to looking at ways to stop the system of free carbon credits for industrial polluters from disincentivising industrial decarbonisation.
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.
‘Weird and sad’ – Tuvalu Climate Minister condemns NZ halving methane target
Wed 15 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Dr Maina Talia, Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, says he’s surprised at New Zealand’s decision to weaken its target for reducing methane emissions – and is planning to take up the issue with his counterpart Climate Minister Simon Watts this week.
NZ’s biggest ever climate meeting kicks off
Tue 14 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The world's largest climate adaptation conference kicked off in Christchurch yesterday, with nearly 2000 attendees expected, making it potentially the biggest international climate meeting Aotearoa New Zealand will ever host.
Bottom trawling a triple threat to marine environments - new report
9 Oct 2025
Media release | Greenpeace is calling for urgent action to restrict bottom trawling after a new government report highlights the compounding effects this destructive fishing method has on climate change, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.
Lobby group launches ‘blueprint’ for ocean management reform
18 Sep 2025
The Environmental Defence Society yesterday released its plan to tackle widespread ecological decline in our oceans.
Councils need funding tools to address climate challenges – LGNZ
Fri 17 Oct 2025
Media release | Local Government New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s new National Adaptation Framework, while cautioning that councils will struggle to meet its new expectations without additional funding tools.
Students repeat request for Victoria University to divest from fossil fuel investments
24 Sep 2025
Media release | A group of students campaigning for climate action at Victoria University of Wellington have dropped a banner protesting against the university’s lack of action on its 2014 commitment to divest from fossil fuels.
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.
Record global renewable energy growth remains short of climate target, report says
Thu 16 Oct 2025
A new report finds that a record amount of global renewable energy capacity was added last year, but that still leaves countries “short of targets towards meeting a UN climate goal to triple capacity by 2030”.
Solar households to get little-noticed tax break
23 Sep 2025
A provision in the government’s latest tax bill would exempt households from paying tax on income they earn by selling excess electricity back to the grid.
Climate scientists and republican lawyers are taking aim at Big Tech’s emissions
Fri 17 Oct 2025
Technology companies have long been one of the biggest investors in clean energy, but new accounting rules could upend that.
Last minute change to oil and gas legislation over cleanup costs
31 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government is expected to repeal the oil and gas ban today, with a last-minute amendment handing discretionary power to two ministers over the controversial issue of decommissioning.
For Australia to get moving on electric vehicles, we must ban petrol and diesel cars by 2035
Fri 17 Oct 2025
COMMENT: If nothing is done, transport is projected to be Australia’s largest emissions source by 2030.
Fix it, don't ditch it: University of Auckland hosts first Repair Cafe
9 Oct 2025
Media release - Auckland University | The University's first-ever Repair Cafe is bringing students and staff together to give broken items a new lease on life, while promoting a culture of repair and reuse.
Farmers face heightened solvency risks as climate changes: research
10 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Increasingly volatile weather patterns, higher insurance costs driven by climate change risk and global financial volatility represent risks to New Zealand farmers’ capacity to service debt and remain solvent, according to new research by Christchurch-based research firm Kōmanawa Solutions.
‘Con,’ ‘scam,’ ‘hoax’: Trump’s UN speech on climate
24 Sep 2025
The president used a large chunk of his hour-long speech to world leaders to condemn climate science and clean energy policies.
Trump administration moves to revoke permit for Massachusetts offshore wind project
24 Sep 2025
The Trump administration has moved to block a Massachusetts offshore wind farm, its latest effort to hobble an industry and technology that President Donald Trump has attacked as “ugly” and unreliable compared to fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.
