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The place for NZ oriented news releases on climate change and related energy policy.
Full credit for turning off the gas
Grants worth tens of millions of dollars are on offer for climate-friendly projects.
And they should be easier to come by in the second tender round of the Government's Projects to Reduce Emissions programme, which opens next week.
The Government will peel six million units off the wad of tradeable carbon credits it gets under the Kyoto Protocol and hand them out as grants to projects which will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas New Zealand will be accountable for under the climate change treaty.
Strictly speaking, what successful tenderers get is tradeable rights to some of the assigned amount units which will be allotted to New Zealand under the protocol to cover the level of emissions it is permitted in the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012.
Grants worth tens of millions of dollars are on offer for climate-friendly projects.
And they should be easier to come by in the second tender round of the Government's Projects to Reduce Emissions programme, which opens next week.
The Government will peel six million units off the wad of tradeable carbon credits it gets under the Kyoto Protocol and hand them out as grants to projects which will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas New Zealand will be accountable for under the climate change treaty.
Strictly speaking, what successful tenderers get is tradeable rights to some of the assigned amount units which will be allotted to New Zealand under the protocol to cover the level of emissions it is permitted in the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012.
Farmers to benefit from climate change research
The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas research Consortium was today congratulated on the publication of its first annual report by Minister of Agriculture Jim Sutton and Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change Pete Hodgson. The report details ten principal areas of work which together give significant impetus towards achieving the principle aims of the group to reduce greenhouse gas emission and to increase productivity in the agriculture sector. "
The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas research Consortium was today congratulated on the publication of its first annual report by Minister of Agriculture Jim Sutton and Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change Pete Hodgson. The report details ten principal areas of work which together give significant impetus towards achieving the principle aims of the group to reduce greenhouse gas emission and to increase productivity in the agriculture sector. "
New Zealand - Dutch emissions trading agreement signed
The governments of New Zealand and the Netherlands will today sign an emissions trading co-operation arrangement. The arrangement builds on the two countriescommon interesting in the promotion of emissions trading and the New Zealand governmentProjects to Reduce Emissions PRE programme. AUnder the PRE programme successful projects that contribute towards a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions are awarded tradable emissions units. ASenterNovem an agency of the Dutch Government is about to run its fifth procurement tender round for the purchase of emissions units under a progamme it calls ERUPT. The Dutch Government's target is to purchase 34 million units to be counted against its emissions reduction targets. "
The governments of New Zealand and the Netherlands will today sign an emissions trading co-operation arrangement. The arrangement builds on the two countriescommon interesting in the promotion of emissions trading and the New Zealand governmentProjects to Reduce Emissions PRE programme. AUnder the PRE programme successful projects that contribute towards a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions are awarded tradable emissions units. ASenterNovem an agency of the Dutch Government is about to run its fifth procurement tender round for the purchase of emissions units under a progamme it calls ERUPT. The Dutch Government's target is to purchase 34 million units to be counted against its emissions reduction targets. "
CDN lett to the PM
The Climate Defence Network (CDN) congratulates you on your recent valuable contribution to educating the public about the seriousness of climate change. We refer to your comments regarding flooding events in New Zealand and the trend to more extreme weather events associated with climate change. There is now a very strong scientific consensus that global climate change is underway – and increased flooding events in some areas are consistent with such a trend.
The threat of future climate change may even be worse than previously thought. As Professor James Kennett noted in a presentation in Wellington recently – the historical record suggests that changes in Antarctica can lead to very abrupt and large changes in the climate (possibly as a result of the release of methane gas stored on the ocean floor).
The Climate Defence Network (CDN) congratulates you on your recent valuable contribution to educating the public about the seriousness of climate change. We refer to your comments regarding flooding events in New Zealand and the trend to more extreme weather events associated with climate change. There is now a very strong scientific consensus that global climate change is underway – and increased flooding events in some areas are consistent with such a trend.
The threat of future climate change may even be worse than previously thought. As Professor James Kennett noted in a presentation in Wellington recently – the historical record suggests that changes in Antarctica can lead to very abrupt and large changes in the climate (possibly as a result of the release of methane gas stored on the ocean floor).
New 100-turbine wind farm construction expected within months
New Zealand Windfarms expects to start stage one of the 100-turbine Te Rere Hau wind farm on the Tararua skyline early next year.
Business Development Manager Chris Freear said yesterday the company was confident it had overcome previously perceived noise problems with its locally developed generator.
The company anticipates a resource consent hearing this October.
A transmission lines agreement is being worked out with neighbour TrustPower and the company plans to float shares early next year. "
New Zealand Windfarms expects to start stage one of the 100-turbine Te Rere Hau wind farm on the Tararua skyline early next year.
Business Development Manager Chris Freear said yesterday the company was confident it had overcome previously perceived noise problems with its locally developed generator.
The company anticipates a resource consent hearing this October.
A transmission lines agreement is being worked out with neighbour TrustPower and the company plans to float shares early next year. "
Beehive backs power station
The Government has agreed to share the risk with Genesis Energy of developing a $520 million power station at Huntly.
That raises the question of whether Genesis, a state-owned enterprise, is getting an unfair advantage over private sector competitors.
Genesis and the Government yesterday announced that a new, 385MW combined cycle power station will be built next to the existing station at Huntly. It should start producing electricity by late 2006.
The new station will be the first substantial addition to New Zealand power generation since 2000 and will help to meet soaring demand.
The Government's role will incense private generators such as Contact Energy and Trustpower, with their own plans for power stations.
It is also bound to spark debate on whether the state-owned enterprise model - seen by some as an unsustainable'half-way house' - should be abandoned in favour of more transparent, centralised control of the energy sector. "
The Government has agreed to share the risk with Genesis Energy of developing a $520 million power station at Huntly.
That raises the question of whether Genesis, a state-owned enterprise, is getting an unfair advantage over private sector competitors.
Genesis and the Government yesterday announced that a new, 385MW combined cycle power station will be built next to the existing station at Huntly. It should start producing electricity by late 2006.
The new station will be the first substantial addition to New Zealand power generation since 2000 and will help to meet soaring demand.
The Government's role will incense private generators such as Contact Energy and Trustpower, with their own plans for power stations.
It is also bound to spark debate on whether the state-owned enterprise model - seen by some as an unsustainable'half-way house' - should be abandoned in favour of more transparent, centralised control of the energy sector. "
National's Climate Policy: by George W Bush?
Vanessa Atkinson Greenpeace climate campaigner
The National Party's anti-climate change policy is an embarrassment to New Zealanders, who would be excused for confusing National's policies with those of George Bush. In a world where climate change is already impacting real people in real ways and costing real money, National would prefer to allow a business-as- usual approach to destroy the fragile climate system that supports us.
The first thing National would do to the climate is to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol - the only existing international agreement on climate change. The whole world was appalled when Bush and the USA walked away from Kyoto, closely followed by Australia. Now National wants New Zealand to join this tiny cabal of environmental pariahs and ignore what is happening to our planet.
But there is great dissent in the ranks in those countries"
Vanessa Atkinson Greenpeace climate campaigner
The National Party's anti-climate change policy is an embarrassment to New Zealanders, who would be excused for confusing National's policies with those of George Bush. In a world where climate change is already impacting real people in real ways and costing real money, National would prefer to allow a business-as- usual approach to destroy the fragile climate system that supports us.
The first thing National would do to the climate is to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol - the only existing international agreement on climate change. The whole world was appalled when Bush and the USA walked away from Kyoto, closely followed by Australia. Now National wants New Zealand to join this tiny cabal of environmental pariahs and ignore what is happening to our planet.
But there is great dissent in the ranks in those countries"
'Gold rush' for water
Some regions in the South Island are facing a 'water rush' from farmers converting from lambs and wool to higher-value intensive dairying cropping, says an environmental lobbyist.
'Water is fast assuming the value of gold in Canterbury,' said Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell.
'There is a gold rush mentality as farms convert to dairying, but it is putting enormous strain on the environment.'
Mr Hackwell was commenting on the announcement that Environment Court judge John Jackson has recommended to the Government that a water conservation order be placed on the Rangitata River in South Canterbury. "
Some regions in the South Island are facing a 'water rush' from farmers converting from lambs and wool to higher-value intensive dairying cropping, says an environmental lobbyist.
'Water is fast assuming the value of gold in Canterbury,' said Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell.
'There is a gold rush mentality as farms convert to dairying, but it is putting enormous strain on the environment.'
Mr Hackwell was commenting on the announcement that Environment Court judge John Jackson has recommended to the Government that a water conservation order be placed on the Rangitata River in South Canterbury. "
'Gold rush' for water
Some regions in the South Island are facing a 'water rush' from farmers converting from lambs and wool to higher-value intensive dairying cropping, says an environmental lobbyist.
'Water is fast assuming the value of gold in Canterbury,' said Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell.
'There is a gold rush mentality as farms convert to dairying, but it is putting enormous strain on the environment.'
Mr Hackwell was commenting on the announcement that Environment Court judge John Jackson has recommended to the Government that a water conservation order be placed on the Rangitata River in South Canterbury. "
Some regions in the South Island are facing a 'water rush' from farmers converting from lambs and wool to higher-value intensive dairying cropping, says an environmental lobbyist.
'Water is fast assuming the value of gold in Canterbury,' said Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell.
'There is a gold rush mentality as farms convert to dairying, but it is putting enormous strain on the environment.'
Mr Hackwell was commenting on the announcement that Environment Court judge John Jackson has recommended to the Government that a water conservation order be placed on the Rangitata River in South Canterbury. "
National urges Kyoto caution
The National Party says it will scrap any carbon tax on the statute books when it next takes office.
It will also pull out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2013 if the Government has committed New Zealand to climate change policies tougher than our major trading partners beyond that point.
The policy, tabled in Parliament last week, has been greeted with scorn by Climate Change Minister Pete Hodgson, who sums it up as 'Do nothing then throw in the towel'.
He accuses National of hiding behind the skirts of Washington and Canberra.
National's environment spokesman Nick Smith insists National is not anti-Kyoto. 'We are saying we are prepared to do our bit in line with our major trading partners.
'Effectively we are saying we don't want to be the first guys off the block, nor the last.' "
The National Party says it will scrap any carbon tax on the statute books when it next takes office.
It will also pull out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2013 if the Government has committed New Zealand to climate change policies tougher than our major trading partners beyond that point.
The policy, tabled in Parliament last week, has been greeted with scorn by Climate Change Minister Pete Hodgson, who sums it up as 'Do nothing then throw in the towel'.
He accuses National of hiding behind the skirts of Washington and Canberra.
National's environment spokesman Nick Smith insists National is not anti-Kyoto. 'We are saying we are prepared to do our bit in line with our major trading partners.
'Effectively we are saying we don't want to be the first guys off the block, nor the last.' "
Entertainment News - Saleroom: Captain Cook's market is still going strong: "Captain Cook's market is still going strong
11.08.2004 By DON MILNE
Right from the pillaging days of Cook and Banks, good Maori artefacts have been in high demand - and more than two centuries on, the market is still busy.
So Dunbar Sloane's artefact sale last week, with 300 lots, attracted strong attention and prices, with almost all sold.
Top price went to an exceptional and large (52cm long) wakahuia from the early-contact period. It went for $60,000 (hammer price, with 12.5 per cent buyer's premium and GST, $68,436), believed to be a record for such a piece. "
11.08.2004 By DON MILNE
Right from the pillaging days of Cook and Banks, good Maori artefacts have been in high demand - and more than two centuries on, the market is still busy.
So Dunbar Sloane's artefact sale last week, with 300 lots, attracted strong attention and prices, with almost all sold.
Top price went to an exceptional and large (52cm long) wakahuia from the early-contact period. It went for $60,000 (hammer price, with 12.5 per cent buyer's premium and GST, $68,436), believed to be a record for such a piece. "
Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority
The Renewable Energy Industry Status Report
The Renewable Energy Industry Status Report summarises changes in the use of renewable energy in New Zealand for the period 2000-2003. Technologies covered in the report include hydro energy, geothermal, wind energy, bioenergy (woody biomass, food processing and agricultural, and municipal waste), solar energy (solar water heating, photovoltaic, and space heating and passive solar design), and marine energy. "
The Renewable Energy Industry Status Report
The Renewable Energy Industry Status Report summarises changes in the use of renewable energy in New Zealand for the period 2000-2003. Technologies covered in the report include hydro energy, geothermal, wind energy, bioenergy (woody biomass, food processing and agricultural, and municipal waste), solar energy (solar water heating, photovoltaic, and space heating and passive solar design), and marine energy. "
Debaters agree on energy problems, but differ on solutions
For a presentation entitled 'The Great Energy Debate' there was much agreement last night between the Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons and Don Elder, chief executive of New Zealand's largest coal producer, Solid Energy.
Both agreed the country's energy demand was close to outstripping supply and that the environment had suffered from past energy production, including coal extraction and burning.
Their differences lay in their views of the choices New Zealanders need to make to ensure the lights remain on while the environment survives.
The debate, in front of about 100 people at the University of Otago Burns lecture theatre, was chaired by Otago Regional Councillor Neville Peat. Ms Fitzsimons and Mr Elder followed a format of answering their own and each other's questions about energy. "
For a presentation entitled 'The Great Energy Debate' there was much agreement last night between the Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons and Don Elder, chief executive of New Zealand's largest coal producer, Solid Energy.
Both agreed the country's energy demand was close to outstripping supply and that the environment had suffered from past energy production, including coal extraction and burning.
Their differences lay in their views of the choices New Zealanders need to make to ensure the lights remain on while the environment survives.
The debate, in front of about 100 people at the University of Otago Burns lecture theatre, was chaired by Otago Regional Councillor Neville Peat. Ms Fitzsimons and Mr Elder followed a format of answering their own and each other's questions about energy. "
National And Labour Get It Wrong On Climate Change
The forest and wood processing industries have expressed disappointment that National has followed Labour’s lead in advocating the nationalisation of forest carbon sink credits.
New Zealand Forest Owners Association Chief Executive Rob McLagan said the industry was not opposed to action to address climate change but had consistently sought to achieve recognition for the role played by forest owners.
The forest and wood processing industries have expressed disappointment that National has followed Labour’s lead in advocating the nationalisation of forest carbon sink credits.
New Zealand Forest Owners Association Chief Executive Rob McLagan said the industry was not opposed to action to address climate change but had consistently sought to achieve recognition for the role played by forest owners.
Southern Hemisphere's largest wind farm powers up
Electricity from the first turbines to be commissioned at Meridian's Te Apiti site near Palmerston North will today be connected to the national grid by Energy Minister, Pete Hodgson. With a total planned capacity of 90 MW, the site is set to be the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.
'Wind power is enjoying unprecedented growth in New Zealand and is on track to have grown four fold by the end of the year to April 2005. Nationally, our wind resource is capable of supporting developments that could provide over 20 per cent of all our power needs,' says Pete Hodgson.
The granting by government of tradable greenhouse gas emissions units enabled this development to go ahead sooner than it otherwise might. The units were awarded as part of the government's climate change policy under a scheme which has since developed into the Climate Change Office's Projects to Reduce Emissions programme. Tenders for a second round of this scheme open later this month, bringing the total number of emissions units offered under it to ten million. "
Electricity from the first turbines to be commissioned at Meridian's Te Apiti site near Palmerston North will today be connected to the national grid by Energy Minister, Pete Hodgson. With a total planned capacity of 90 MW, the site is set to be the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.
'Wind power is enjoying unprecedented growth in New Zealand and is on track to have grown four fold by the end of the year to April 2005. Nationally, our wind resource is capable of supporting developments that could provide over 20 per cent of all our power needs,' says Pete Hodgson.
The granting by government of tradable greenhouse gas emissions units enabled this development to go ahead sooner than it otherwise might. The units were awarded as part of the government's climate change policy under a scheme which has since developed into the Climate Change Office's Projects to Reduce Emissions programme. Tenders for a second round of this scheme open later this month, bringing the total number of emissions units offered under it to ten million. "
Farmer pressure on Australia to ratify Kyoto
Western Australian farmers have resolved to keep pressure on the Federal Government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
The WA Farmers Federation (WAFF) wrote to the Prime Minister in April urging him to ratify the Protocol. The federation's spokesman for land management and conservation, Garry English, says it will now lobby Senator Ian Campbell, who is to take over as Federal Environment Minister, to outline even greater concerns if Russia signs up, reported ABC.
It appears as though Russia is going to sign on with the Kyoto Protocol,' English said.
That in turn will trigger the implementation or bring it into force throughout the world ... and there are also trade implications for Australia and America and others who don't sign now because the numbers are there to support it."
Western Australian farmers have resolved to keep pressure on the Federal Government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
The WA Farmers Federation (WAFF) wrote to the Prime Minister in April urging him to ratify the Protocol. The federation's spokesman for land management and conservation, Garry English, says it will now lobby Senator Ian Campbell, who is to take over as Federal Environment Minister, to outline even greater concerns if Russia signs up, reported ABC.
It appears as though Russia is going to sign on with the Kyoto Protocol,' English said.
That in turn will trigger the implementation or bring it into force throughout the world ... and there are also trade implications for Australia and America and others who don't sign now because the numbers are there to support it."
Aus Ministers debate CO2 dumps :
ChevronTexaco, Shell and ExxonMobil are pushing hard for the federal and state governments to approve a controversial method for injecting greenhouse gases underground so they can start work on what will be the world's largest geosequestration project off the north-west coast of Western Australia.
The governments will try to strike a deal at today's Ministerial Council for Mineral and Petroleum Resources in Alice Springs on the regulation of geosequestration, as to who will be responsible for securing or maintaining the carbon dioxide dumps in the long term and who will be liable if there is a leak.
The federal government has made geosequestration its preferred technique for tackling greenhouse gases, at the expense of renewable energy technologies such as wind generation.
But only the Gorgon project, slated to inject carbon dioxide under Barrow Island off Western Australia, is close to a start.
Comment - but without ratification of Kyoto by Australia no tradeable credits can result - not does the Federal Govt suport an internal trading system - an odd story?
ChevronTexaco, Shell and ExxonMobil are pushing hard for the federal and state governments to approve a controversial method for injecting greenhouse gases underground so they can start work on what will be the world's largest geosequestration project off the north-west coast of Western Australia.
The governments will try to strike a deal at today's Ministerial Council for Mineral and Petroleum Resources in Alice Springs on the regulation of geosequestration, as to who will be responsible for securing or maintaining the carbon dioxide dumps in the long term and who will be liable if there is a leak.
The federal government has made geosequestration its preferred technique for tackling greenhouse gases, at the expense of renewable energy technologies such as wind generation.
But only the Gorgon project, slated to inject carbon dioxide under Barrow Island off Western Australia, is close to a start.
Comment - but without ratification of Kyoto by Australia no tradeable credits can result - not does the Federal Govt suport an internal trading system - an odd story?
Biodiesel plant mooted for North
A British company wants to build a $50 million biodiesel plant in Northland - but only if diesel taxes, regulations or incentives change to make it worthwhile.
Argent Group Europe, which owns meat rendering plants in Britain and the Timaru tannery New Zealand Light Leathers, is due to complete a £15 million ($43 million) biodiesel plant in Scotland by the end of this year that will be the biggest of its type in the world.
A British company wants to build a $50 million biodiesel plant in Northland - but only if diesel taxes, regulations or incentives change to make it worthwhile.
Argent Group Europe, which owns meat rendering plants in Britain and the Timaru tannery New Zealand Light Leathers, is due to complete a £15 million ($43 million) biodiesel plant in Scotland by the end of this year that will be the biggest of its type in the world.
LGNZ Supports Climate Protection programme
Speaking at the formal launch of the programme by Energy Minister and Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson, in Auckland today, Local Government New Zealand’s President Basil Morrison said the programme could help the sector develop effective local programmes to address climate change.
Speaking at the formal launch of the programme by Energy Minister and Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson, in Auckland today, Local Government New Zealand’s President Basil Morrison said the programme could help the sector develop effective local programmes to address climate change.
