On carbon emissions I don’t have any hope for NZ under National, which is still stuck in a stupid fossil fuel mentality. I do have hope for the people, organisations, and regions within NZ who are collectively taking action. And I’m proud that my home of Dunedin is leading the way.
John Key has announced an increase in funding on research into the reduction of agricultural emissions of greenhouse gasses of $20 million over four years or $5 million a year. Which is the amount the Government cut from this research two months ago.
The Youth Delegation at COP 21 has secured a copy of the Government’s negotiation guide and has published it …
The Australian Labor Party will today announce its goals for emissions reduction with a plan for zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Why are the so called leaders meeting at COP21 so afraid of public demonstrations? Let the people have their say…
With just days to go before the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) it is time for we the people to make our voices heard. See the list of People’s Climate March events around the country this weekend – most are on Saturday, some are on Sunday.
John Key has stated that within three to four years New Zealand’s scientists will have a solution for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. If this is correct why has the Government just released a discussion paper on the ETS ruling out agricultural emissions because there are no practical technologies available to reduce them?
This morning Greenpeace activists occupied a NIWA oil and gas exploration vessel. #ClimbItChange
The Blueskin Bay settlement north of Dunedin provides an example of people working collectively at a local level to live sustainably.
Nationwide protest marches are planned in New Zealand on November 28 in the run up to the Paris Climate Change talks to give the message to world leaders that real action to address climate change is required.
As the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment warns of the risks of sea level rises and recommends action, National are clear that they will take none. They are determined to leave all the risks and costs of climate change to future governments.
The Paris climate change talks will force leaders to confront climate change and the threat of terrorism at the same time. Can they show the same determination to deal with the gradual but inevitable threat of climate change as they purport to show to deal with the immediate threat of terrorism.
“‘Unless the world acts decisively in coming weeks, the Pacific as we know it is doomed,’ says Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama”. Odds of the world acting decisively in the coming weeks – effectively nil.
There is a catastrophic event happening in one of the world’s more populous nations which is receiving very little attention from the media. Indonesia is burning and no one is paying attention
The proposed TPP is a protection racket – not a trade deal.
A young Auckland Green, Renée Rose Annan is fundraising to travel to the Paris Conference on climate change.
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.
Parliamentary Services have marred what might otherwise have been a showcase example of how public protest is treated in New Zealand.
It’s not just lefties such as yours truly who think it’s mad to cut agricultural (especially emissions) research.
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.
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.
“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.”
Cutting research into greenhouse gases? With our emissions profile? Now? This can’t possibly be mere stupidity. This must be willful blindness.
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.
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.
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.
The Greens are attempting something remarkable, a plan that is economically credible, but set in the context of realistic environmental constraints. Did they succeed?
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.
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”.
July was hot hot hot. Meanwhile, let’s keep focussing on economic growth and more exports (and not making the middle classes too nervous that life is going to change radically, one way or another).
Recent analysis of different Governments’ greenhouse gas reduction pledges for the Paris Conference suggests that New Zealand’s is behind that of Windmill hating Tony Abbott’s Australia.
In Copenhagen, our government committed itself, and by extension, us “To hold the increase in global temperature below two degrees Celsius and to take actions to meet this objective, consistent with the science and on the basis of equity”
And yet…
Far too late in his presidency Obama is taking important action on climate change. But it isn’t enough, not nearly enough, as new research shows that we need to achieve “negative emissions” (i.e. carbon capture).
Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB has recently brought refreshingly realistic commentary on climate change. Meanwhile in the Herald climate change is thought to be a good thing because summers become warmer.
The emissions reduction target decided by the Nat government is an admission that we as a country don’t give a stuff about the future.
