Topics tagged with 'Politics'
No timeframe on exploiting southern lignite fields
2 Apr 2008
Solid Energy (SE) is going to use its huge Otago-Southland lignite coal resource eventually – it’s just not sure when, according to the state-owned collier’s chairman, John Palmer.
Bangkok talks warned little time remains for climate change solution
2 Apr 2008
UN Climate Change Talks began Monday in Bangkok with warnings that little time remains for international community to negotiate 2009 Copenhagen agreement.
Clark, Rudd to jointly address Auckland climate change conference
2 Apr 2008
Both Helen Clark and Kevin Rudd are to address a major trans-Tasman climate change business conference to be held in Auckland.
Insolvency threatens Maori forest owners
1 Apr 2008
Some Maori owners of pre-1990 forest land are going to become technically insolvent the day the Government’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) comes into effect, according to the secretary of a Maori incorporation.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘Conflicts? What conflicts?’ – John Palmer
1 Apr 2008
No conflicts or contradictions over the pending emissions trading scheme (ETS) arise from John Palmer’s chairmanship of both state-owned collier Solid Energy (SE) and mostly-state-owned airline Air New Zealand, he told Carbon News yesterday.
No need for NZ to drag feet on biofuels
1 Apr 2008
New Zealand shouldn’t delay bringing in biofuel sales obligations and miss out on cutting greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels says a major potential investor.
Family Party to oppose carbon tax
1 Apr 2008
Family Party leader Richard Lewis says the party is unconvinced that carbon based taxes are justified or necessary.
Skids under government’s bio-fuels mandate
31 Mar 2008
It looks increasingly likely that the Labour-led Government’s mandate for petrol and diesel to contain 3.4% of bio-ingredients from July 1 will be shelved – possibly for as long as it takes to develop second-generation bio-fuels.
Roger Kerr: Saving the Planet Must Not Cost the Earth
31 Mar 2008
By Roger Kerr, Business Roundtable Shortly a select committee of parliament will begin hearings on the bill to implement an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Forum explores low-carbon futures for local government
31 Mar 2008
“Innovative and forward-thinking councils committed to working on climate change will come together to discuss low-carbon futures for local government at the Communities for Climate Protection®- New Zealand 2008 Forum,” said Diana Shand, National Programme Manager for ICLEI’s Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand (CCP-NZ) Programme.
Posnett defends bio-fuels' New Zealand role
28 Mar 2008
“A piece of legislation” is all that’s required to give bio-fuels a sustainable role in the New Zealand transport fuel mix, according to Dickon Posnett, the chairman of the newly-formed New Zealand Bio-fuels Manufacturers’ Association (BMA).
Environmental protests knock millions off Solid Energy's bottom line
26 Mar 2008
In a prescient remark, given Greenpeace’s blockage of the bulk coal carrier Hellenic Sea in Lyttelton a few hours later, Solid Energy chairman John Palmer has warned that customer uncertainty over the ETS is “raising the risk profile for the long-term security of Solid Energy’s domestic coal supply business.”
Three pillars to Wong’s emissions policy
26 Mar 2008
The three pillars of reducing emissions, adapting to unavoidable climate change and helping shape a global solution are at the heart of Australia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) policies, Australian Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has told Carbon News.
Now it’s petrol giving the Aussies cold feet
26 Mar 2008
Never mind that the participation of agriculture and forestry in the Australian emissions trading scheme (ETS) looks like being left to the respective industries to decide, land transport may be allowed off the hook too.
Greenpeace occupies coal ship; calls for real action on climate change
26 Mar 2008
Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior has blocked a shipment of export coal from leaving the Port of Lyttelton.
Ministry RFP reveals plan to measure tourism's GHG footprint
25 Mar 2008
New Zealand's $18.6 billion a year tourism sector is about to have its carbon footprint measured.
FULL VERSION: Discussion paper on the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme
25 Mar 2008
The Garnaut Climate Change Review has released its ETS discussion paper, which looks at which industries should be included in Australia's ETS, and issues like recycling revenue from the sale of emission permits.
Self-assessment the Kiwi ETS maxim
20 Mar 2008
A CARBON NEWS INQUIRY SERIES - By Hugh de Lacy: Don’t wait around for the Government to impose overseas standards on carbon assessment and verification: self-assessment is the core theme in the New Zealand emissions trading scheme (ETS), according to Dave Brash, general manager of the Treasury’s Emissions Trading Group.
Official timetable for introducing Australia's ETS
20 Mar 2008
Here is the official timetable for developing and introducing Australia's greenhouse gas cap and trade scheme.
The full bill: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference)
20 Mar 2008
As a service to subscribers, Carbon News provides a full copy of the Climate Change (emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill
Hansard debate record on the first reading of the NZ ETS bill
20 Mar 2008
As a service to subscribers, the Hansard report on the introduction of the bill proposing to introduce emissions trading in new Zealand, and ban new non-baseload thermal generation for 10 years can be viewed here (http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/d/f/2/48HansD_20071212_00000817-Climate-Change-Emissions-Trading-and-Renewable.htm)
No swerving from ETS – Cullen
19 Mar 2008
Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen's office says he is adamant the global economic downturn will not deflect the Government from its decision to introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS) this year.
Could Clark deliver a personal climate change tax credit?
19 Mar 2008
Could the Clark Government come up with a one-off cash Climate Action Dividend in this year’s Budget, to offset higher costs people will face to pay for its climate change measures?
Anderton says survey shows deforestation reducing
19 Mar 2008
The latest survey of deforestation intentions shows that forest owners intend to dramatically reduce deforestation as a result of the proposed emissions trading scheme, Forestry Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday.
Forestry, agriculture may not be in Aussie ETS
18 Mar 2008
Agriculture and forestry may be dumped in the too-hard basket by new Labor Government Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, who yesterday announced a timetable for Australia to launch an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
TZ1 trading platform ready, registry launches April
18 Mar 2008
NZX carbon trading subsidiary chief executive Mark Franklin says TZ1’s market platform is ready to operate.
Key backs ETS – with balance
18 Mar 2008
Opposition Leader John Key says his party supports the proposed New Zealand emissions trading system, describing it as “a good model, market-based, it works”. He also talked of further reforming the planning laws so renewable energy projects could proceed.
FRANKLIN SPECIAL INTERVIEW: US well down the climate track
18 Mar 2008
Climate change hold-out the United States might not rush to follow Australia into ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, but behind the scenes it’s moving quickly to legislate for something similar.
Forestry offsetting gains "overwhelming" support
18 Mar 2008
The Flexible Land Use Alliance (FLUA) says it now has "overwhelming" support for a foresty offset scheme in both Parliament and the finance and expenditure select committee now that the National Party has got in behind it.
Business leader says to trust prices to look after the environment
18 Mar 2008
Businesses should reinforce their belief in the power of markets to put a price on carbon and take care of the environment.
Independent scientists essential for innovation fund integrity
18 Mar 2008
The Green Party says that there must be independent scientists involved in the allocation of the $700 million pastoral and food innovation fund announced today by the Government.
Business wants New Zealand to go nuclear on emission credits
17 Mar 2008
Businesses being required to enter New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme want to be able to trade nuclear-sourced emissions credits.
EXCLUSIVE PROFILE: The young millionnaire behind Green Carbon
17 Mar 2008
By Hugh de Lacy - The trauma of an 11-year-old only child seeing his parents all but ruined by the 1987 sharemarket crash is what drove Seeby Woodhouse into a hugely successful entrepreneurial career.
MPs on track to get emissions bill back to House June 10
17 Mar 2008
Parliamentary Finance and Expenditure select committee hearings on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill get underway on April 2.
Bio fuel makers: vaibility seriously at risk
17 Mar 2008
Major players in New Zealand’s fledgling biofuel manufacturing sector believe there are severe risks to its viability.
Blair back on big nation campaign for bold global deal
16 Mar 2008
Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will lead a major new climate change initiative aiming to "break the deadlock" on achieving a global deal on climate change.
Big voter thumbs up for red-tape cutting on infrastructure projects
15 Mar 2008
New national ShapeNZ polling shows 64% of New Zealanders support the use of National Policy Statements (NPS) and National Environment Statements (NES) to cut red tape when companies seek consents for infratructure projects.
Corporate tax group's views on treatment of New Zealand emission trading units
12 Mar 2008
Inland Revenue is being asked to clarify how emissions trading units, used in the coming New Zealand emissions trading scheme, will be treated. This paper prepared by Deloitte for the Corporate Tax Group (representing 32 major corporations) and submitted to the IRD, sets out the issues – and proposed solutions in how ETUs should be treated for tax purposes.
Climate Change natural - unstoppable
12 Mar 2008
By Dr Muriel Newman, Director NZ Centre for Political Research www.nzcpr.com (http://www.nzcpr.com/). I have just returned from an historic meeting of more than 500 people from around the world who gathered in New York to address the question of whether man-made global warming is really threatening the future existence of our planet.
‘Pathetic': experts slam govt’s approach to adaptation
Mon 20 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has signalled it will step back from full property buyouts if assets are hit by climate disasters, a move adaptation experts say will condemn hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders to a “dismal” future.
Govt ‘captured by industry’ on methane – Carr
Today 11:00am
By Liz Kivi | Former Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr says that recent moves to weaken methane targets and halt plans for agricultural emissions pricing show the Government has been captured by industry.
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.
States sue to stop Trump cancellation of $7 billion solar grant program
Today 11:00am
Nearly two dozen states are suing the Trump administration over its cancellation of a $7 billion grant program aimed at expanding solar energy in low-income communities, according to court papers.
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.
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.
Electricity Authority proposes doubling solar export limits to 10 kW
Mon 20 Oct 2025
The Electricity Authority is proposing a default 10kW export limit for small-scale generation, saying new inverter standards and voltage settings allow homes and businesses to feed more power into local networks without compromising safety.
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.
Adaptation plan at odds with public sentiment: survey
Today 11:00am
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s position on climate adaptation buyouts shows a disconnect with public opinion, according to survey findings from insurer Suncorp NZ.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Methane pledge in question following NZ weakening targets
Mon 20 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi New Zealand’s new methane target puts the Global Methane Pledge – and ultimately climate targets – at risk, according to an international expert.
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.
Mystery heatwave warms Pacific Ocean to new record
Today 11:00am
The waters of the north Pacific have had their warmest summer on record, according to BBC analysis of a mysterious marine heatwave that has confounded climate scientists.
‘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.
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.
Council buys dairy farm to help clean up Lake Rotorua
Today 11:00am
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has bought a 266-hectare dairy farm in the Lake Rotorua catchment and plans to retire it from production to reduce nitrogen entering the lake.
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.
How one country’s Russian gas crisis became a green energy boom
Today 11:00am
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Moldova quickly empowered its small towns to produce their own renewable energy so no one could push it around.
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.
Landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions in tatters after US pressure
Mon 20 Oct 2025
A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the US succeeded in ending the talks.
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.
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.
