The Standard

Environment

Categories under Environment

NRT: An empty strategy

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, October 8th, 2015 - 14 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on the government’s National Statement of Science Investment . (Meant to repost this earlier in the week!)

TPP roundup

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, October 7th, 2015 - 161 comments

A roundup of the best analysis of and reaction to the TPP. The gains are minor and delayed, the losses are real. In NZ we don’t have any democratic input into ratification, but the US does, and the deal may fall there.

Exxon knew

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 5th, 2015 - 24 comments

Exxon knew all about global warming and the “hockey stick” all the way back in 1981. Naturally the course of action they decided on was to lie and deny.

Embarrassment turns to spite

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 4th, 2015 - 40 comments

Parliamentary Services have marred what might otherwise have been a showcase example of how public protest is treated in New Zealand.

Guest post: Auckland’s transport towards next year

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, October 1st, 2015 - 18 comments

Ad discusses Auckland transport projects likely to be introduced over the next 12 months.

Andrew Little: A better future for Auckland

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 1st, 2015 - 43 comments

The text of a speech Andrew Little gave to the Committee for Auckland about Auckland’s future.

Diesel Bomb

Written By: - Date published: 11:53 am, October 1st, 2015 - 37 comments

Last Friday I wrote a post on Volkwagen gaming NOx emissions. This is a follow up.

Key pinches Labour’s Kermadec Sanctuary Policy

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 30th, 2015 - 88 comments

National’s announced intention to create a marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands looks remarkably like Labour’s policy from the last election. And why did John Key not tell his caucus beforehand?

Commentary on research cuts

Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, September 29th, 2015 - 11 comments

It’s not just lefties such as yours truly who think it’s mad to cut agricultural (especially emissions) research.

What other countries are doing about climate change

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, September 29th, 2015 - 27 comments

There is hope that the cumulative effect of all the international pledges for the Paris climate change conference may buy the world some time to prevent runaway global warming.  Some countries are pledging to becoming carbon neutral.  New Zealand’s pledge is pathetically weak in comparison.

No particular reason

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, September 29th, 2015 - 28 comments

bowie life on mars

Groser don’t go

Written By: - Date published: 3:22 pm, September 28th, 2015 - 5 comments

Greenpeace, 350 Aotearoa and the Coal Action Network have jointly urged John Key not to send Tim Groser to Paris for the climate change talks because the Government’s policies and proposed response will embarrass New Zealand and damage its international reputation.

Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, September 27th, 2015 - 66 comments

The Government this week proposed at considerable expense the purchase of a couple of panda. But at the same time the Government is again proposing to allow the drilling for oil in the habitat of Maui’s Dolphin which is facing extinction.

NZ doing more harm than good on climate change

Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, September 26th, 2015 - 47 comments

“Key told not to attend Paris and to pull NZ delegation”.

“It would be better for humanity if John Key were to stay home, and instruct Minister Groser and the delegation to do likewise.”

Pope Francis speaks

Written By: - Date published: 8:32 am, September 26th, 2015 - 98 comments

Pope Francis has given two important speeches recently.

AgResearch cuts include greenhouse gas research – of course

Written By: - Date published: 12:28 pm, September 25th, 2015 - 29 comments

Cutting research into greenhouse gases? With our emissions profile? Now? This can’t possibly be mere stupidity. This must be willful blindness.

NOx-ious shit all around.

Written By: - Date published: 7:49 am, September 25th, 2015 - 109 comments

Been trying to get my head around the implications of Volkswagen’s rigged diesel performance tests. Predictably, and unlike most stories covering this, I couldn’t give a rat’s arse for the financial woes the company might be facing.

Let Ioane Stay

Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, September 22nd, 2015 - 35 comments

Ioane Teitiota lives with his family in New Zealand, he works in New Zealand and his children were born in New Zealand but he does not have residence in New Zealand.  The Government wants him to return to Kiribati even though that Island is suffering from climate change. Updated with comment from John Key.

Is this what Key meant by investing in research?

Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, September 22nd, 2015 - 32 comments

Yesterday Key listed, among the “achievements” of his government for this term: “investing in … research and development”. Was this an example of what he had in mind?

Tsunami warning

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, September 17th, 2015 - 21 comments

Tsunami warning for the East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula after #chile quake. http://rnz.to/1UVX5BY

Hot hotter hottest

Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, September 15th, 2015 - 102 comments

Plenty of distractions in the political circus at the moment, but meanwhile

Guest Post – Hawkes Bay is GE free

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, September 14th, 2015 - 26 comments

A guest post by Ad on the Hawkes Bay’s decision to prohibit under its District Plan the release or the conducting of field trials of GM crops and animals.

Key and Abbott are prepared to sacrifice the Pacific

Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, September 12th, 2015 - 98 comments

Climate change induced sea level increases poses a huge threat to most Pacific Islands.  They are seeking support for a goal of limiting temperature increases to no more than 1.5 degrees.  Australia and New Zealand are insisting on sticking to a goal of no more than 2 degrees even though this will likely mean that many Islands will disappear.

Refugee crisis a taste of things to come

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, September 12th, 2015 - 75 comments

The current refugee crisis is but a taste of the climate refugee crisis to come. But it according to Key it’s fine, because it won’t be a problem in the next year or two.

Naomi Klein correctly calls Tony Abbott a Climate Villain

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, September 6th, 2015 - 71 comments

Naomi Klein recently visited Australia and amongst other things described climate change as a crime, criticised the Abbott Government attack on renewable energy and described the importance of grassroots action and indigenous rights.

Christchurch – rhetoric and reality

Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, September 4th, 2015 - 29 comments

Today is five years since the first of the Canterbury / Christchurch earthquakes. Christchurch voices are calling out for leadership.

Greens’ climate discussion paper

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, September 4th, 2015 - 122 comments

The Greens are attempting something remarkable, a plan that is economically credible, but set in the context of realistic environmental constraints. Did they succeed?

Is Syria the first failed state because of climate change?

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, September 2nd, 2015 - 172 comments

A climate change induced drought from 2006 to 2009 appears to have sparked the instability that has caused the Syrian Civil war.  The mass exodus of citizens that we are witnessing may be the first of many climate change induced events.

70 refugees dead in small truck on Austrian roadside

Written By: - Date published: 9:04 pm, August 28th, 2015 - 107 comments

When European and NATO countries participate in destabilising and destroying nearby countries, the human tragedy doesn’t stay neatly confined to the other side of the border.

Scientists remind dickheads of their inadequecies

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, August 27th, 2015 - 12 comments

Ever imagine what a bull elephant’s penis looks like? Well wonder no more. Biologists kicked off a #junkoff today with this challenge. I have to say that the local trolls waving their dicks about on this site look poorly endowed and rather unimaginative.

NRT: Climate change: Absolute madness

Written By: - Date published: 5:11 pm, August 25th, 2015 - 12 comments

I/S at No Right Turn: “the government is spending tens of millions of dollars a year paying these companies to destroy the world. It is absolute madness”.