Links
Archives
- 10/01/2000 - 11/01/2000
- 11/01/2000 - 12/01/2000
- 12/01/2000 - 01/01/2001
- 01/01/2001 - 02/01/2001
- 02/01/2001 - 03/01/2001
- 03/01/2001 - 04/01/2001
- 04/01/2001 - 05/01/2001
- 05/01/2001 - 06/01/2001
- 06/01/2001 - 07/01/2001
- 07/01/2001 - 08/01/2001
- 08/01/2001 - 09/01/2001
- 09/01/2001 - 10/01/2001
- 10/01/2001 - 11/01/2001
- 11/01/2001 - 12/01/2001
- 12/01/2001 - 01/01/2002
- 01/01/2002 - 02/01/2002
- 02/01/2002 - 03/01/2002
- 03/01/2002 - 04/01/2002
- 04/01/2002 - 05/01/2002
- 05/01/2002 - 06/01/2002
- 06/01/2002 - 07/01/2002
- 07/01/2002 - 08/01/2002
- 08/01/2002 - 09/01/2002
- 09/01/2002 - 10/01/2002
- 10/01/2002 - 11/01/2002
- 11/01/2002 - 12/01/2002
- 12/01/2002 - 01/01/2003
- 01/01/2003 - 02/01/2003
- 02/01/2003 - 03/01/2003
- 03/01/2003 - 04/01/2003
- 04/01/2003 - 05/01/2003
- 05/01/2003 - 06/01/2003
- 06/01/2003 - 07/01/2003
- 07/01/2003 - 08/01/2003
- 08/01/2003 - 09/01/2003
- 09/01/2003 - 10/01/2003
- 10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003
- 11/01/2003 - 12/01/2003
- 12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
- 01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004
- 02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
- 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
- 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
- 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
- 06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
- 07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
- 08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
- 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
- 10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
- 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
- 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
- 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
- 02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
- 03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
- 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
- 05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
- 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
- 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
- 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
- 09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
- 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
- 11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
- 12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
- 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
- 02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
- 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
- 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
- 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
- 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
- 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
- 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
- 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
- 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
- 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
- 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
- 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
- 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
The place for NZ oriented news releases on climate change and related energy policy.
Lukewarm interest in climate consultation hui
Bureaucrats sometimes outnumbered attendees at a $30,000 series of hui to consult Maori over global-warming issues.
Just 75 people turned up for the 10 regional meetings on the impact of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, making the cost more than $400 a head.
Bureaucrats sometimes outnumbered attendees at a $30,000 series of hui to consult Maori over global-warming issues.
Just 75 people turned up for the 10 regional meetings on the impact of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, making the cost more than $400 a head.
Forget the jealousy, let's think globally The anger and frustration that has followed the collapse at the weekend of global talks on climate change, has mostly been directed at the United States and its allies. It should not be. A close reading of events at The Hague makes it clear the US made considerable concessions near the end. It was the environment ministers of Europe, particularly of France and the Nordic states, whose intransigence has dealt a blow to hopes born at Kyoto three years ago.
Business Seeks Strategy For Kyoto Protocol "Business wants to get over the wall of political correctness that has surrounded climate change issues and it needs to deal early with the practical challenges they present," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.
"There are large gaps of understanding to bridge between what the Kyoto Protocol will require in New Zealand, and how we are to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without also lowering our standards of living.
"There are large gaps of understanding to bridge between what the Kyoto Protocol will require in New Zealand, and how we are to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without also lowering our standards of living.
Energy Efficiency Loans Saving $4m A Year Energy Minister Pete Hodgson said the CO2 and energy savings were being achieved by central and local government agencies in the Crown Energy Efficiency Loan scheme, run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
"The energy reductions are saving taxpayers and ratepayers over $4 million a year," Mr Hodgson said. "Since it began the scheme has reduced public sector energy costs by $27.4 million.
"The energy reductions are saving taxpayers and ratepayers over $4 million a year," Mr Hodgson said. "Since it began the scheme has reduced public sector energy costs by $27.4 million.
Hodgson's Opening Statement At The Hague
"We have come to The Hague to get those rules.
Once we have the rules New Zealand wants full flexibility to act within them. Flexibility to develop our own policies and measures. Flexibility to set our own regulations, to trade, to plant, to abate, to adopt new technologies, to research newer technologies. We want the flexibility to start on CDM activities, and like the G77 we want that soon.
The rules that secure environmental integrity are the same rules that will deliver a price for carbon. It is that price, more than well intentioned political commitment, which will catalyse appropriate technology transfer to the G77. It is that price which will allow the world to move along the cost curve together. It is that price that begins to internalise the environmental externalities. That is, so long as we have the flexibility to use it."
"We have come to The Hague to get those rules.
Once we have the rules New Zealand wants full flexibility to act within them. Flexibility to develop our own policies and measures. Flexibility to set our own regulations, to trade, to plant, to abate, to adopt new technologies, to research newer technologies. We want the flexibility to start on CDM activities, and like the G77 we want that soon.
The rules that secure environmental integrity are the same rules that will deliver a price for carbon. It is that price, more than well intentioned political commitment, which will catalyse appropriate technology transfer to the G77. It is that price which will allow the world to move along the cost curve together. It is that price that begins to internalise the environmental externalities. That is, so long as we have the flexibility to use it."
New Zealand Wins Fossil of the Day Award New Zealand yesterday received the Wet Belly Fossil award in conjunction with Australia, Canada and the United States for wanting to remove references to existing international environment agreements from the eligibility rules for land use, land use change and forestry.
Environmental Defence Society says Climate Change Conference Still Might Succeed
The Executive Director of the Environmental Defence Society, Gary Taylor, says that the collapse of the Climate Change Conference at the Hague does not mean that agreement is impossible.
Speaking from the Hague, where he has been attending the Conference on behalf of EDS as part of the New Zealand delegation, Mr Taylor said that EDS "remains optimistic that agreement can still be reached between nations to combat the effects of climate change."
"The collapse of talks at the Hague occurred because nations were not prepared to listen to eachother. They took positions and were not prepared to move from them.
"In the end, for a consensus to be reached between all the countries of the world, there has to a willingness to move. Our analysis of the outcome is the USA and the European Union got stuck in their respective positions. That is a great shame. All the countries of the world accept that climate change is a problem that humanity must address but cannot agree on how to address it.
"The Conference agreed that there will be a COP6.5 held early next year. This will be an unscheduled Conference of the Parties and it will be essential the countries agree on a detailed plan for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
"New Zealand must exercise all its influence in the Umbrella Group to persuade the USA to move. The EU countries must also demonstrate a willingness to put in place a system that has environmental integrity and is also acceptable to the other nations involved.
"The consequences of global warming are so profound and potentially devastating that action to combat it has to be agreed early next year.
"EDS supports the NZ Government in its efforts to create a consensus. Our part of the world is especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. We must strive to persuade the rich nations of the world, which are the ones that have created the problem, that they must share the pain of beginning the transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable sources of energy.
"For us, attendence at our first COP has been a salutary and sobering exprience. Getting agreement between all the countries of the world is a big ask. We regret very much that national interests appear to have prevailed over global ones. Countries need to lift their sights," said Mr Taylor.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Defence Society, Gary Taylor, says that the collapse of the Climate Change Conference at the Hague does not mean that agreement is impossible.
Speaking from the Hague, where he has been attending the Conference on behalf of EDS as part of the New Zealand delegation, Mr Taylor said that EDS "remains optimistic that agreement can still be reached between nations to combat the effects of climate change."
"The collapse of talks at the Hague occurred because nations were not prepared to listen to eachother. They took positions and were not prepared to move from them.
"In the end, for a consensus to be reached between all the countries of the world, there has to a willingness to move. Our analysis of the outcome is the USA and the European Union got stuck in their respective positions. That is a great shame. All the countries of the world accept that climate change is a problem that humanity must address but cannot agree on how to address it.
"The Conference agreed that there will be a COP6.5 held early next year. This will be an unscheduled Conference of the Parties and it will be essential the countries agree on a detailed plan for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
"New Zealand must exercise all its influence in the Umbrella Group to persuade the USA to move. The EU countries must also demonstrate a willingness to put in place a system that has environmental integrity and is also acceptable to the other nations involved.
"The consequences of global warming are so profound and potentially devastating that action to combat it has to be agreed early next year.
"EDS supports the NZ Government in its efforts to create a consensus. Our part of the world is especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. We must strive to persuade the rich nations of the world, which are the ones that have created the problem, that they must share the pain of beginning the transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable sources of energy.
"For us, attendence at our first COP has been a salutary and sobering exprience. Getting agreement between all the countries of the world is a big ask. We regret very much that national interests appear to have prevailed over global ones. Countries need to lift their sights," said Mr Taylor.
Hague Negotiations Reach Endgame Pete Hodgson, New Zealand's minister at the World Conference on Climate Change in the Hague, says the negotiations have reached "the beginning of the endgame" but the prospects for an agreement are still uncertain.
Mr Hodgson was commenting at the end of the fourth day of ministerial-level negotiations, with two days to go. The ministerial negotiations this week were preceded by a week of officials meetings last week.
Mr Hodgson was commenting at the end of the fourth day of ministerial-level negotiations, with two days to go. The ministerial negotiations this week were preceded by a week of officials meetings last week.
Influence Of Green Parties Felt In Climate Treaty Speaking from the conference, New Zealand's Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons said this shift was an example of how the growing strength of Green parties around the world is beginning to influence international policy.
"Five of the 15 European countries are represented here by Green ministers. Even France, which is the most highly nuclearised country on earth, is not arguing for the need for nuclear development in the third world," she said.
Ms Fitzsimons said the stronger position taken by New Zealand on this issue over the last few months has clearly been helpful at the Hague.
"Five of the 15 European countries are represented here by Green ministers. Even France, which is the most highly nuclearised country on earth, is not arguing for the need for nuclear development in the third world," she said.
Ms Fitzsimons said the stronger position taken by New Zealand on this issue over the last few months has clearly been helpful at the Hague.
Climate Conference Failure Disappointing New Zealand was deeply involved until the end, in a middle position between the two camps.
"It is frustrating indeed that an agreement could not be reached, especially when one was so close," Mr Hodgson said. "The nations concerned have found a great deal of common ground in the past few days and moved much closer together than they were.
"It is frustrating indeed that an agreement could not be reached, especially when one was so close," Mr Hodgson said. "The nations concerned have found a great deal of common ground in the past few days and moved much closer together than they were.
Climate a competitiveness issue.
Australia and the United States, which respectively buy 30 per cent and 11 per cent of NZ's forestry exports, show no sign of being quick to adopt the Kyoto Protocol.
The forestry industry also points out that the 1997 protocol imposes no obligations on key export competitors such as Chile and Brazil.
And it warns that the further investment needed to process New Zealand's burgeoning timber harvest would be more likely to occur in industrialising countries with no Kyoto obligations, such as China, India and Indonesia. That would confine New Zealand to the role of log exporter.
Australia and the United States, which respectively buy 30 per cent and 11 per cent of NZ's forestry exports, show no sign of being quick to adopt the Kyoto Protocol.
The forestry industry also points out that the 1997 protocol imposes no obligations on key export competitors such as Chile and Brazil.
And it warns that the further investment needed to process New Zealand's burgeoning timber harvest would be more likely to occur in industrialising countries with no Kyoto obligations, such as China, India and Indonesia. That would confine New Zealand to the role of log exporter.
Hague conference implications for New Zealand
Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says New Zealand has a national interest in securing action on climate change.
"Our economy, more than the economy of any other developed country, is based on growing stuff. Our climate is a large part of why we are good at doing that," Mr Hodgson said.
Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says New Zealand has a national interest in securing action on climate change.
"Our economy, more than the economy of any other developed country, is based on growing stuff. Our climate is a large part of why we are good at doing that," Mr Hodgson said.
NZ's Climate Change Action Plan - Pete Hodgson
We are actually well past the time for action, given the timetable the international community has set itself. We are halfway between 1992, when 154 nations decided at the Rio Earth Summit to act, and 2008, when those international commitments start to bite. Article three of the Kyoto Protocol requires us to have made demonstrable progress in achieving our commitments by 2005. We haven't done nearly enough to achieve that.
We are actually well past the time for action, given the timetable the international community has set itself. We are halfway between 1992, when 154 nations decided at the Rio Earth Summit to act, and 2008, when those international commitments start to bite. Article three of the Kyoto Protocol requires us to have made demonstrable progress in achieving our commitments by 2005. We haven't done nearly enough to achieve that.
IPENZ Submission on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
The magnitude of the Kyoto targets is such that, to reach them, significant changes will be needed to New Zealand's social patterns, employment relationships, transportation systems and national infrastructure. This is not widely understood by society, and this lack of understanding is one of the larger barriers to the success of the Strategy.
The magnitude of the Kyoto targets is such that, to reach them, significant changes will be needed to New Zealand's social patterns, employment relationships, transportation systems and national infrastructure. This is not widely understood by society, and this lack of understanding is one of the larger barriers to the success of the Strategy.
Fuel tax rise mooted
Petrol, electricity, natural gas, and coal prices must rise drastically under the Government's commitment to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change by 2002, environmentalists say.
Petrol, electricity, natural gas, and coal prices must rise drastically under the Government's commitment to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change by 2002, environmentalists say.
Clmate change briefing
Pete Hodgson, Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, will speak at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade briefing for journalists next Monday on his visit to The Hague 2000 World Conference on Climate Change next month.
Pete Hodgson, Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, will speak at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade briefing for journalists next Monday on his visit to The Hague 2000 World Conference on Climate Change next month.
