Topics tagged with 'Greenhouse Effect'
World can afford green economy, says new report
3 Feb 2009
Moving to a green global economy could not only protect the planet from the worst effects of climate change but is surprisingly affordable, new figures show.
US spacecraft aims to unlock secrets of carbon
3 Feb 2009
NASA's first spacecraft dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide is in final preparations for a February 23 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Overheated Aussies get a taste of climate change
3 Feb 2009
A heatwave scorching southern Australia could be a glimpse of the future as the world’s climate changes, the government says.
Poor state of Earth focus of South Island journey
3 Feb 2009
South Islanders will march from Bluff to Picton in a journey to wake the nation to the world’s dire environmental plight.
Deforestation returns running late
30 Jan 2009
Deforestation returns for pre-1990 forests close tomorrow, but many will be late.
Big UK polluters abusing EU carbon trading scheme
30 Jan 2009
Britain’s biggest polluting companies are abusing a European emissions trading scheme designed to tackle global warming by cashing in their carbon credits in order to bolster ailing balance sheets.
EU puts plan for global carbon trading system
30 Jan 2009
The European Union is calling on developed countries - particularly the US - to sign on to a global system for trading carbon credits to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Gore urges action on US green agenda
30 Jan 2009
Former US vice-president Al Gore yesterday, laid out a road map for President Barack Obama to push through his ambitious green agenda and re-assert American leadership on global climate change negotiations.
Climate change largely irreversible, new study shows
30 Jan 2009
A new scientific study reaches a powerful conclusion about the climate change caused by future increases of carbon dioxide: to a large extent, there’s no going back.
Asian cities team up to prepare for climate change
30 Jan 2009
Asian cities will form a network to prevent disasters and prepare for the impacts of climate change with initial backing of around $50 million from the US-based Rockefeller Foundation.
NZ could pay the price for Australian energy targets
27 Jan 2009
Australia’s mandatory renewable energy target of 20 per cent by 2020 could cost New Zealand investment dollars.
Biofuels a sham, says Goldsmith's ecology magazine
27 Jan 2009
The Wellington-based Pacific Institute of Resource Management - the Australasian arm of millionaire environmentalist Teddy Goldsmith - is denouncing the push for sustainable biofuels as the “most appalling sham.”
Europe woos US for transatlantic carbon market
27 Jan 2009
The European Commission is preparing to call on the United States to create a transatlantic system of carbon trading to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to press for the establishment of similar markets spanning the developed world.
Leading investors call for US 'green recovery'
27 Jan 2009
A group of 44 US and international investors managing more than $1.7 trillion in assets has called on Congressional leaders to include significant funding for energy efficiency, clean energy and clean transportation in the economic stimulus bill being debated this week in Congress.
Clinton names key US climate change envoy
27 Jan 2009
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today appointed a special envoy for climate change, vowing that the Obama administration would restore America's credentials and leadership in shaping environmental policy.
Rudd minister rubbishes Opposition’s ETS scheme
27 Jan 2009
Australian Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has scoffed at Opposition claims that the Rudd Government has done nothing on developing clean energy sources, insisting it has already allocated $1 billion for development of renewable technologies and clean coal.
Japan satellite to measure carbon gases from space
27 Jan 2009
Japan has launched the first satellite to monitor greenhouse gases worldwide, a tool to help scientists better judge where global warming emissions are coming from, and how much is being absorbed by the oceans and forests.
US domestic airline offers offset as you go
27 Jan 2009
Passengers flying with Virgin America can offset the environmental impact of their journey while they are travelling.
New Zealand should join the new International Renewable Energy Agency
27 Jan 2009
About 100 states will be meeting in Bonn this week to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency (http://www.irena.org/), but New Zealand has not yet committed to being there.
Deadline looms for owners to report deforestation
23 Jan 2009
Owners of pre-1990 forests have just over a week to report any deforestation last year as the government starts the massive job of accounting for changes in land use.
ETS review submissions start to flow
23 Jan 2009
Submissions on the review of the emissions trading scheme are starting to trickle in.
Obama vows to pioneer renewable energy revolution
23 Jan 2009
President Barack Obama has promised the American people the country will pioneer a green revolution in renewable energy.
‘Optimistic’ UN chief greets new US president
23 Jan 2009
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has, “with great optimism,” congratulated Barack Obama on his inauguration as President of the United States, stressing that America and the UN share a number of common goals.
Scientists find out how fish poo fights climate change
23 Jan 2009
Scientists have discovered that fish play a major role in the marine carbon cycle, making them unexpected allies against climate change.
Zurich approach 'bearing fruit'
23 Jan 2009
In the first year since its launch, the global Climate Initiative of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) has led to the development of new products and services addressing the evolving risks associated with climate change, significant steps in measuring and managing Zurich’s own carbon footprint and the facilitation of climate change related research.
SKM Wins Global Business Achievement Award
23 Jan 2009
Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, Sinclair Knight Merz has been recognised by the Environmental Business Journal with a gold medal for business achievement.
Obama's green leadership challenges National, say Greens
23 Jan 2009
As the new US president promised again to champion the environment, Green Party co-Leader Dr. Russel Norman asked why New Zealand's government is headed in the opposite direction.
Cheaper carbon is the up-side of the downturn
20 Jan 2009
The cost of implementing an emissions trading scheme is falling with the recession, says a prominent business adviser.
It's all win-win for no-till farmers, says scientist
20 Jan 2009
New Zealand farmers could be collecting carbon credits, cutting crop production costs and boosting yield all at the same time, says a New Zealand scientist.
Nats' ETS opinions don't worry me, says Hide
20 Jan 2009
Act Party leader Rodney Hide says that he is unconcerned by comments from United Future leader Peter Dunne and Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee that New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme is here to stay.
Obey the law, minister tells confused forest owners
20 Jan 2009
Forestry Minister David Carter has told forest owners concerned about the vailidy of the the emissions trading scheme that they should obey the law.
Obama has four years to save Earth, says climate expert
20 Jan 2009
Barack Obama has only four years to save the world. That is the stark assessment of NASA scientist and leading climate expert Jim Hansen who has warned only urgent action by the new US president can halt the devastating climate change that threatens Earth.
PwC buys international environment advisory firm
20 Jan 2009
PricewaterhouseCoopers has announced the acquisition of the US operations of Sustainable Finance Limited, an international advisory firm with operations based in America, Britain and Holland.
Defer the ETS to minimise job losses, says MEUG
20 Jan 2009
The pros and cons of deferring the Emissions Trading Scheme should be considered by the Prime Minister’s Summit on Employment next month,” says Ralph Matthes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG).
No takers with emissions trading review a month away
16 Jan 2009
Submissions on the review of New Zealand emissions trading scheme close on February 13 - and so far none have been made.
Solid Energy: NZIER report all we funded
16 Jan 2009
Solid Energy says that the NZIER report on the implications of the emissions trading scheme is the only work it has funded on the issue.
Day one will reveal Obama’s climate change track
16 Jan 2009
New United States president Barack Obama's dedication to addressing climate change will be tested on his first day in the White House, where a few strokes of the pen could radically change Bush Administration policies.
UN carbon trading scheme suspends reluctant Russia
16 Jan 2009
The immaturity of one of the United Nation’s flagship carbon trading schemes has been underlined after Russia was suspended from registering carbon credits on the international transaction log (ITL) as a result of unpaid fees.
Lawyers to launch association for climate change officers
16 Jan 2009
A professional association of senior executives responsible for climate change and energy will launch in the United States within the next six to 18 months.
Peru planting 40 million trees to fight climate change
16 Jan 2009
Peru has embarked an ambitious project to plant 40 million trees in three months to help to deter the effects of climate change.
Emerging economies more concerned, but optimistic about solving climate change
16 Jan 2009
Consumers in emerging economies are more concerned and willing to take actions against climate change than those in developed countries, according to global research by Accenture.
Climate could be changing the sound of music
16 Jan 2009
Scientists are not ruling out the possibility that climate change may have affected the sound of wooden musical instruments.
Learn the lingo with buzzwords for greenspeak
16 Jan 2009
If you want to impress friends with your green know-how, make sure to brush up on the top green buzzwords of the year.
New investment in climate change research
16 Jan 2009
Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter has announced over $10 million in funding for research projects designed to help the agriculture and forestry sectors adapt and respond to climate change.
National will have to do better than announce old policy , says Anderton
16 Jan 2009
The National Party is to be congratulated for finally recognising the importance of climate change mitigation for farmers, but it’s a bit cheeky to act as if it has a new fund of money, Opposition agriculture spokesman Jim Anderton says.
Used cooking oil slashes hot water power bill by 92%
16 Jan 2009
A Kaikoura backpackers has slashed a massive 92 per cent off the cost of its hot water bill by re-using cooking oil from local takeaways and restaurants to fire its boiler.
Canadians adopt New Zealand climate change software
23 Dec 2008
Climate change mitigation firm HYDRA Software has just signed a technology sharing deal with leading Canadian hydro optimization specialists Synexus Global.
Greenpeace New Zealand Inc v Genesis Power Ltd
22 Dec 2008
Here is the Supreme Court judgement on the Greenpeace versus Gensis Power climate change case.
Greens label Supreme Court decision as blow to climate
22 Dec 2008
Friday 19 December 2008 – A serious blow has been dealt to the climate with a Supreme Court decision just handed down in the Genesis Energy/ Greenpeace case.
Confused forest owners keep planting plans on hold
19 Dec 2008
The Government’s announcement that it will not now suspend the emissions trading scheme will not get forest owners planting again, they say.
Governments must vote in favour of moratorium on deep sea mining
Tue 29 Jul 2025
Media release - Greenpeace | The 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has ended with Greenpeace saying governments are continuing to fall short in protecting the deep sea.
Does NZ need a national incentive scheme for wetlands?
Fri 25 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | An expert is calling for a national incentive programme to restore New Zealand’s wetlands and wants to stop schemes to drain these vital carbon-sequestering ecosystems.
NZ Post drops science-based climate target
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.
Airlines risk legal challenges by advertising jet fuel as “sustainable”, NGO warns
18 Jul 2025
Amid suspected fraud in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a new report says the airline industry should stop calling all alternatives to kerosene “sustainable”.
Challenges persist in bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump
Tue 29 Jul 2025
After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in international waters under U.S. jurisdiction.
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.
Is extending Huntly power station to 2035 in consumers’ best interest?
22 Jul 2025
By Simon Orme | COMMENT: Genesis Energy is proposing a cartel to keep high-emitting Huntly Power Station in business to 2035. If extending Huntly has economic benefits, is a cartel necessary?
At least 30 killed and several missing as heavy rains and floods lash northern China
Today 11:45am
Thousands of people were evacuated as the region, including the capital Beijing, braced for more rainfall overnight.
Bearish sentiment lingers for carbon market
11 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | The compliance carbon market could be set for a gradual upward trajectory, however unsold volume from the quarterly Emissions Trading Scheme auctions continues to act as ‘a price ceiling,’ according to an expert.
Multi-day protest continues at coal mine
Today 11:45am
Bathurst Resources has been forced to truck coal from its Stockton mine as climate activists occupy coal buckets at the mine for a third day.
Forestry can be a big plus for sheep and beef farmers – but there are caveats
22 Jul 2025
By Keith Woodford | OPINION: These are good times for sheep and beef farmers with record product prices for meat, which is precisely why now is the time for sheep and beef farmers to be looking again at farm forestry.
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.
NZ voluntary carbon market’s sad state
14 Jul 2025
By John O’Brien | OPINION: A combination of scandals, challenging economic times, and cheaper offshore carbon credits, mean that the domestic voluntary carbon market in New Zealand remains absolutely tiny.
Hiringa eyes green methanol plant near Whanganui
Tue 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.
Key orange roughy population on verge of collapse, govt considers closure
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.
A third of ‘slum residents’ in global south are exposed to disastrous flood risks
Today 11:45am
One in three people in informal settlements in the global south live in floodplains and are at risk of a “disastrous flood”.
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.
Wilding pines threaten Molesworth Station
Mon 28 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Without increased support, the unchecked spread of wilding pines will continue to creep across Marlborough’s high country – putting iconic landscapes and one of New Zealand’s top five biodiversity hotspots at serious risk, according to an expert.
EV sales fall, but it’s complicated
Tue 29 Jul 2025
Imports of fully electric vehicles fell over 50% in value during the 12 months to June 2025, compared with the year ended June 2024, according to Stats NZ.
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.
SBTi releases Net Zero Standard for banks, investors
Thu 24 Jul 2025
The Science Based Targets initiative announced the release of its finalised Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard, aimed at enabling banks and investors to set net zero-aligned targets for their lending, investing, insurance and capital markets activities.
‘Ideological sludge’: How NZ is quiet quitting climate action
17 Jul 2025
New Zealand once stood out as a world leader on climate change. In June it became the first country in the world to abandon a commitment to phase out oil, gas and coal.
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.
Taranaki mayors want hydrogen kick-start from Wellington
Mon 28 Jul 2025
By Craig Ashworth, Local Democracy Reporter Taranaki mayors want central government to partner up with their councils to kick-start a hydrogen industry. This despite ongoing questions about the gas’s effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions.
Climate catastrophes are creating a ‘new market reality’ for insurance carriers
23 Jul 2025
Raging wildfires and severe storms contributed to record-high global insurance losses — totalling an estimated US$84 billion — for the first six months of the year.
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.
The ICJ’s ruling means Australia and other major polluters face a new era of climate reparations
Fri 25 Jul 2025
By Harj Narulla | OPINION: Australia has found itself on the wrong side of history.
All aboard for passenger rail in the golden triangle
Mon 28 Jul 2025
Media release – The Future Is Rail | New Zealand’s national passenger rail advocacy group, The Future is Rail, has announced its strong support for the Green Party’s proposal to establish a new passenger rail service connecting Auckland and Tauranga.
NZ part of hidden global deep-sea network beneath the waves
Fri 25 Jul 2025
Media release - Earth Sciences New Zealand | A world-first study of marine life, including sea creatures found in New Zealand's dark, cold, pressurised ocean depths, has revealed that deep-sea life is surprisingly more connected than previously thought.
Urgent action needed to get on track for climate goals - commission
Fri 25 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand is making progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but more work is needed – urgently – to set up for future reductions, according to the latest report from the Climate Change Commission.
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.
Toxic algae are turning South Australia’s coral reefs into underwater graveyards
Tue 29 Jul 2025
Since March, a harmful algal bloom, fueled by a marine heat wave, has been choking South Australia’s coastline.
NZ govt’s fossil fuel plans could break international law
Thu 24 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government could be breaching international law with its plans to subsidise and expand fossil fuel extraction, following a ruling overnight from the world’s highest court.
Tipping points: Window to avoid irreversible climate impacts is ‘rapidly closing’
11 Jul 2025
In the midst of a record-breaking heatwave in Europe, the UK city of Exeter recently played host to the second international conference on “tipping points”.
‘Total infiltration’: How plastics industry swamped vital global treaty talks
Mon 28 Jul 2025
Petrostates and well-funded lobbyists at UN-hosted talks are derailing a deal to cut plastic production and protect people and the planet.
Media round-up
Fri 25 Jul 2025
In our round-up of the climate coverage in local media: Dairy conversions surge; Gore is hit with a drinking water crisis; meanwhile farming lobby groups Groundswell and Federated Farmers are up in arms about a plan to classify environmental impacts in the agriculture and forestry sector.
As US climate data-gathering is gutted, Australian forecasting is now at real risk
Today 11:45am
As damage from climate change intensifies, political change overseas is threatening Australia’s ability to track what’s happening now, and predict what will happen next.
Activists sue US development bank over $4.6bn loan to massive Mozambique gas project
18 Jul 2025
Environmental groups claim loan is ‘unlawful’ in legal filing.
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.
China's carbon emissions may have peaked thanks to renewables push
Mon 28 Jul 2025
Climate experts say China's carbon emissions may have peaked, which could affect global climate targets, the fight against global warming – and the Australian coal industry.
Ocean heatwaves may signal climate tipping point
Fri 25 Jul 2025
A recent study that tapped into satellite data has revealed that 2023 marked an unprecedented year for marine heatwaves, with record-breaking levels of duration, reach and intensity across the world's oceans.
Climate groups want UK wealth tax to make super-rich fund sustainable economy
17 Jul 2025
Growing number of campaigners urge government to ensure green investment is not done ‘on backs of the poor’.
Can robot taxis solve NZ's transport woes?
23 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Ministry of Transport has tested the idea of driverless taxis as a futuristic fix. But while new modelling explores how "robotaxis" could ease congestion and reduce car ownership, critics say it misses a crucial point – the country’s worsening transport 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.
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.
The struggle for control of the Arctic is accelerating - and it's riskier than ever
11 Jul 2025
As the battle for one of the world’s coldest places heats up, an increasingly fragile security balance may be breaking down, leading to an escalating arms race.
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.
