Written By: - Date published: 2:13 pm, February 1st, 2015 - 138 comments
The international energy agency’s (IEA) view on climate change is that we are “on track for a 3.5°C rise by 2040” (i.e. 4.2°C relative to pre-industrial).
Fatih Birol – IEA chief economist said (3 years ago)
When I look at this data, the trend is perfectly in line with a temperature increase of 6 degrees Celsius, which would have devastating consequences for the planet….we have 5 years to change the energy system – or have it changed
Written By: - Date published: 11:51 am, January 31st, 2015 - 27 comments
“The Government’s continuing attempts to divest itself of state housing overlook the enormous benefits to society which these homes produce in alleviating severe housing shortages. They were built up by successive generations of New Zealanders, and to “sell them off” under the pretence of efficiency is a disservice to all of us, whether we’re homeowners or renters.”
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, January 26th, 2015 - 43 comments
George Monbiot wrote recently on how Canadian and United Kingdom public media reporting on corporate news are hopelessly pro business and lacking in any sort of balance. And how the volume of articles concerning environmental issues is declining. Is it the same in New Zealand?
Written By: - Date published: 7:22 pm, January 25th, 2015 - 13 comments
Queensland Liberal Country Party Premier Campbell Newman has claimed that the Queensland Labor Party is funded by gangs because some people have told him so. Yet he refuses to acknowledge the urgency of climate change even though pretty well every climate change scientist in the world is telling him it is real and we need to act now. Can you detect the scent of hypocrisy?
Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, January 25th, 2015 - 98 comments
Farmers are copping stick for doing what the rest of us are doing. We all need to change, not just them.
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, January 23rd, 2015 - 109 comments
Fracking has created a short term oil glut. That’s bad news for climate change. Could we at least find a silver lining in this carbon cloud, or will it be business as usual?
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, January 20th, 2015 - 97 comments
Nick Smith today announced proposed changes to the Resource Management Act. It is likely he will resuscitate the reforms that were stalled after Peter Dunne refused to support them last year. ACT’s David Seymour has said he will support the changes even though he did not know what they are. Treasury are to release a paper with proposals for change. Updated lprent – yep National stupidity reprised.
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, January 20th, 2015 - 131 comments
Yesterday it was announced that Auckland is the ninth least affordable city in the world requiring 8.3 times their average wage to buy a home. Reducing regulation hasn’t worked, otherwise more than 20 homes would have been built under the 2013 fast track accord. The problem is a shortage of affordable housing.
Written By: - Date published: 11:20 am, January 18th, 2015 - 161 comments
As widely reported, 2014 was the hottest year on record. And that’s a good thing!
Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, January 17th, 2015 - 6 comments
Generation Zero encourages you to make a submission on the Skypath. All those in favour – say so!
Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, January 11th, 2015 - 50 comments
I think it is a pity that the currently dominant country / culture in the world, America, has had such a short history.
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, January 10th, 2015 - 62 comments
bsprout on the Local Bodies blog, provides a case study, specific to Southland. At the same time, it outlines a more general pattern that can be seen in many places, each with their own local circumstances.
Written By: - Date published: 2:26 pm, January 6th, 2015 - 120 comments
2014 has been confirmed as the hottest year on record. If you own a little place by the beach you might want to ponder the implications…
Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, January 6th, 2015 - 146 comments
Charlie Mitchell of the Dominion Post has analysed John Key’s formal speeches since 2007 to see what has from time to time been uppermost in Key’s mind. The results are interesting to say the least.
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, January 3rd, 2015 - 34 comments
Despite local opposition Auckland Transport intends to fell six prominent Pohutukawa to make way for an extra road lane with dubious transport benefits.
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, January 2nd, 2015 - 275 comments
Yesterday, on Outspoken at RNZ, Craig McCulloch interviewed Jeanette Fitzsimons, Gareth Morgan and Metiria Turei on the future of the Green Party. Morgan wants the Greens to shift away from “scary” economic policies. Turei and Fitzsimons explain why not.
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, January 1st, 2015 - 21 comments
A July 2013 post by Helen Kelly was about Daniel Rockhouse who survived the Pike River Mine disaster, and then rescued Russell Smith. Yesterday Daniel Rockhouse got a bravery award. Read Kelly’s 2013 post here.
Written By: - Date published: 1:26 pm, December 29th, 2014 - 54 comments
Pope Francis has created a stir recently. He has been instrumental in the ending by the United States of sanctions against Cuba, he has criticised the Curia for being inwardly focussed and not sufficiently concerned for the poor and he has reached out to Muslims. And to top things off he is intending to issue a Papal Encyclical on climate change and will be urging countries to enter into a meaningful agreement on climate change.
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, December 24th, 2014 - 28 comments
The UK Green Party is gaining in popularity as many people turn away from the 3 established parties. The radical left Syriza party in Greece could possibly gain power in their election – what powerful international right wing forces would then be unleashed?
Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, December 20th, 2014 - 11 comments
So suggestions on how to have an ethical christmas that is light on the planet and will improve the plight of humanity.
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, December 18th, 2014 - 137 comments
The price of crude oil has nearly halved in the past six months and is causing massive repercussions throughout the world with both the Russian economy and the American Shale Oil industry under threat. The geopolitical implications are complex.
Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, December 14th, 2014 - 70 comments
While I have come to expect nothing from the annual climate change talks, this years’ failure is particularly galling because of the active role that NZ played in it.
Written By: - Date published: 4:18 pm, December 11th, 2014 - 55 comments
New author Mandy Hager joins us with some reflections on having become a grandmother: “So that’s why I’m speaking out now, every opportunity I get. Not because I like the exposure (shudder), but because I love this tiny little person and I will fight for his future, come what may. It’s the right thing to do. …”
Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, December 10th, 2014 - 5 comments
From the Local Bodies blog, 2 posts on the government’s “head in the sand” approach to climate change and the environment. A critique of the government’s approach to business, mining and the environment & a report on the protest against the government’s head in the sand approach.
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, December 10th, 2014 - 18 comments
Colin James has an excellent piece on the housing market. Simon Collins has a piece on the implications on young renters. Meanwhile, a number of other big problems are being ignored by National as well.
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, December 10th, 2014 - 41 comments
Another day of shame for the New Zealand Government. as they march us in lockstep…….
Towards the sort of police State we used to fight.
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, December 8th, 2014 - 150 comments
First instinct, lie. When caught, trivialise and try to deny the science. When pushed, argue that we have to wait for others. When cornered, plead that it’s all about the economy, and promise to act later. Groser is as bad as Key.
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, December 7th, 2014 - 25 comments
The Coal Action Network is planning a series of protests this Sunday to highlight how this Government has its head planted firmly in the sand when it comes to addressing climate change.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, December 6th, 2014 - 61 comments
Tim Groser and National have a plan to solve global warming so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, December 5th, 2014 - 97 comments
Earlier this year Farmwatch investigated pig farming in New Zealand. We filmed horrific conditions and animal cruelty on several farms in Auckland and Christchurch. On one farm workers kicked and stomped on piglets. They beat a sow to death with a sledgehammer. It took more than an hour to kill her. Sunday, TVNZ’s weekend current […]
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