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The place for NZ oriented news releases on climate change and related energy policy.
Emissions Trading Best Way to Cut Emissions
An emissions trading regime would require some difficult political decisions at national level.
The Government would have to decide which greenhouse gases to include in a trading regime. New Zealand is unusual in that more than half of its greenhouse gases come not from the combustion of fossil fuels, but from agriculture, especially methane belched by sheep and cattle.
Dr Kerr said it would be simpler to have a trading system for carbon dioxide, because it is directly related to fossil-fuel consumption, which is easy to monitor, and deal with ruminant methane in other ways.
An emissions trading regime would require some difficult political decisions at national level.
The Government would have to decide which greenhouse gases to include in a trading regime. New Zealand is unusual in that more than half of its greenhouse gases come not from the combustion of fossil fuels, but from agriculture, especially methane belched by sheep and cattle.
Dr Kerr said it would be simpler to have a trading system for carbon dioxide, because it is directly related to fossil-fuel consumption, which is easy to monitor, and deal with ruminant methane in other ways.
US seek delay in climate talks
The United States has asked that climate negotiations on implementing the Kyoto agreement, scheduled to resume in May, be postponed until July, the State Department said.
The United States has asked that climate negotiations on implementing the Kyoto agreement, scheduled to resume in May, be postponed until July, the State Department said.
Climate change: frequently asked questions
NZ Herald feature, global and local view
NZ Herald feature, global and local view
Flooding and erosion predictions with sea level rise
Waikato University coastal scientist Professor Terry Healy said Ninety Mile Beach would probably shrink by around 100m on either side and sand dunes around the country would erode over time.
But New Zealand's geological makeup and high sedimentation rate should ensure that sand and mud were deposited in most places around the coastline at a rate greater than that of erosion.
Flooding would become a problem for low-lying areas in places such as the Coromandel as big storms flooded more places than at present.
Thames, Whitianga and parts of the Kaipara and Waitemata harbours might have to build dykes or other sea defences to keep water out during bad weather.
Waikato University coastal scientist Professor Terry Healy said Ninety Mile Beach would probably shrink by around 100m on either side and sand dunes around the country would erode over time.
But New Zealand's geological makeup and high sedimentation rate should ensure that sand and mud were deposited in most places around the coastline at a rate greater than that of erosion.
Flooding would become a problem for low-lying areas in places such as the Coromandel as big storms flooded more places than at present.
Thames, Whitianga and parts of the Kaipara and Waitemata harbours might have to build dykes or other sea defences to keep water out during bad weather.
New Zealand snow and ice loss
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientist Gavin Fisher says the most striking evidence of climate change in New Zealand has been the loss in the Southern Alps of one-third of its permanent snow and ice in the past 100 years.The world's top climate scientists blame pollution for the rise, which is causing more storms and droughts. They called on governments to restart climate talks stalled since late last year.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientist Gavin Fisher says the most striking evidence of climate change in New Zealand has been the loss in the Southern Alps of one-third of its permanent snow and ice in the past 100 years.The world's top climate scientists blame pollution for the rise, which is causing more storms and droughts. They called on governments to restart climate talks stalled since late last year.
Climate change implications for Marlborough
Farmers and fruit growers would have to look at different crops or varieties to cope with the changes. For the wine and tourism industries a warming would be generally good.
On the downside, diseases and pests which were rare or unknown in New Zealand at the moment could become part of the landscape and even reach Marlborough.
Farmers and fruit growers would have to look at different crops or varieties to cope with the changes. For the wine and tourism industries a warming would be generally good.
On the downside, diseases and pests which were rare or unknown in New Zealand at the moment could become part of the landscape and even reach Marlborough.
IPCC Report - New Zealand reactions
The panel of scientists from 100 countries, including five from New Zealand, concluded that warming over the past 50 years was due to industrial pollution and so-called greenhouse gases belching into the atmosphere.
"You won't get scientists saying anything stronger than that," said New Zealand's lead author on the report, Dr Jim Salinger, of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
"The upper limit of the predictions would totally change the face of the Earth. The planet will be the warmest it's been in millions of years."
The panel of scientists from 100 countries, including five from New Zealand, concluded that warming over the past 50 years was due to industrial pollution and so-called greenhouse gases belching into the atmosphere.
"You won't get scientists saying anything stronger than that," said New Zealand's lead author on the report, Dr Jim Salinger, of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
"The upper limit of the predictions would totally change the face of the Earth. The planet will be the warmest it's been in millions of years."
Global Warming Science Mandates Action
Energy Minister Pete Hodgson, the Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, says the latest report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) further strengthens the case for action to reduce human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Minister Pete Hodgson, the Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, says the latest report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) further strengthens the case for action to reduce human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
'Greener' fuel against law in NZ says BP New Zealand Herald Online - Newspaper
BP's new Ultimate petrol is not as environmentally friendly as the brand it sells in Australia.
The Australian fuel has a higher octane and less benzene.
BP says it cannot sell the Australian brand here because it is illegal.
BP's new Ultimate petrol is not as environmentally friendly as the brand it sells in Australia.
The Australian fuel has a higher octane and less benzene.
BP says it cannot sell the Australian brand here because it is illegal.
Greenfleet initiative
AEBN in conjunction with the ARC is promoting emission reduction and sinks offsets for Auckland vehicle users.
AEBN in conjunction with the ARC is promoting emission reduction and sinks offsets for Auckland vehicle users.
Boost Proposed for Huntly Power Plant
Rising water temperatures in the Waikato River also affected Huntly's capacity to produce power two summers ago.
The amount of water it can discharge is restricted when the river reaches a certain temperature, although Genesis received approval last month to continue using the river water in higher temperatures.
The upgrade of the gas-fired power station will boost Huntly's output from 1000 megawatts to 1400MW, says Genesis chief executive Murray Jackson.
There are two options for the upgrade - building a standalone combined-cycle gas plant or upgrading two of the four existing 250MW turbines to operate more efficiently.
Rising water temperatures in the Waikato River also affected Huntly's capacity to produce power two summers ago.
The amount of water it can discharge is restricted when the river reaches a certain temperature, although Genesis received approval last month to continue using the river water in higher temperatures.
The upgrade of the gas-fired power station will boost Huntly's output from 1000 megawatts to 1400MW, says Genesis chief executive Murray Jackson.
There are two options for the upgrade - building a standalone combined-cycle gas plant or upgrading two of the four existing 250MW turbines to operate more efficiently.
Umbrella Group to meet in NZ
Top environmental negotiators from Japan, the United States and eight other non-European Union industrialized countries will hold secret talks in New Zealand in the middle of February, informed sources said Thursday.
Top environmental negotiators from Japan, the United States and eight other non-European Union industrialized countries will hold secret talks in New Zealand in the middle of February, informed sources said Thursday.
Rotorua lakes temperature rise
Rotorua's major concern was that rising water temperatures over recent years had lowered water quality and increased the prevalence of algae-bloom. "The lakes in Rotorua are the jewels in the crown," Mr McLean said.
"We've already got two lakes, Rerewhakaaitu and Rotoehu, with some questions over Lake Okareka," the society was worried about, Mr McLean said. "Research shows that the water temperatures in the lakes has risen over the past decade."
It was too early to tell whether global warming had played any part in the present problems.
"It's too short a period whether it's global warming or whether it's merely a cyclical trend," Mr McLean said.
"There's nothing local that could possibly tell that, but the research does show that the temperature is rising so there are some danger signs.
Rotorua's major concern was that rising water temperatures over recent years had lowered water quality and increased the prevalence of algae-bloom. "The lakes in Rotorua are the jewels in the crown," Mr McLean said.
"We've already got two lakes, Rerewhakaaitu and Rotoehu, with some questions over Lake Okareka," the society was worried about, Mr McLean said. "Research shows that the water temperatures in the lakes has risen over the past decade."
It was too early to tell whether global warming had played any part in the present problems.
"It's too short a period whether it's global warming or whether it's merely a cyclical trend," Mr McLean said.
"There's nothing local that could possibly tell that, but the research does show that the temperature is rising so there are some danger signs.
