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The place for NZ oriented news releases on climate change and related energy policy.
Toxic water kills NI cows, calves
Ten cattle have died after drinking from a contaminated lake near an Ohinewai farm, in the Waikato.
And people in the district have been warned not to touch the water in Lake Rotongaro.
Farm owner Helen Friend said her family had farmed the property for 33 years and never before had cows and calves died from drinking the lake water.
Friend owns the farm with her husband, Les, and his brother, George.
George Friend said each dead cow had been worth about $1200, meaning the family had lost $12,000 worth of stock. He was not sure if insurance would cover the deaths. "
Ten cattle have died after drinking from a contaminated lake near an Ohinewai farm, in the Waikato.
And people in the district have been warned not to touch the water in Lake Rotongaro.
Farm owner Helen Friend said her family had farmed the property for 33 years and never before had cows and calves died from drinking the lake water.
Friend owns the farm with her husband, Les, and his brother, George.
George Friend said each dead cow had been worth about $1200, meaning the family had lost $12,000 worth of stock. He was not sure if insurance would cover the deaths. "
Scoop: New Zealand's Kyoto Integrity At Stake
Steve Abel, Greenpeace campaigner
It is extremely concerning that the Government does not consider a near-doubling of our C02 emissions from coal-fired power stations an issue of national significance.
However, we will stand alongside the public and fight this all the way to ensure that Marsden B doesn't happen.
Thermal generation is the single biggest cause of an increase in New Zealand C02 emissions in the last year. Huntly has increased its C02 emissions by over 400% since 1990.
New Zealand is currently at 22% above our 1990 levels of C02 emissions. How on earth does the Government think we're going to meet our Kyoto commitments and get to zero by 2012 if it takes no action to stop projects like this?"
Steve Abel, Greenpeace campaigner
It is extremely concerning that the Government does not consider a near-doubling of our C02 emissions from coal-fired power stations an issue of national significance.
However, we will stand alongside the public and fight this all the way to ensure that Marsden B doesn't happen.
Thermal generation is the single biggest cause of an increase in New Zealand C02 emissions in the last year. Huntly has increased its C02 emissions by over 400% since 1990.
New Zealand is currently at 22% above our 1990 levels of C02 emissions. How on earth does the Government think we're going to meet our Kyoto commitments and get to zero by 2012 if it takes no action to stop projects like this?"
Quality Planning | Renewable Energy
Guidance note on the Quality Planning site.
"The purpose of this Guidance Note is:
To promote a good level of understanding about renewable energy, particularly the different types of renewable energy and the range of benefits that may be derived from such sources; and
To encourage local authorities to consider the benefits of renewable energy, and promote consistency in how such benefits are recognised, both in decision-making and policy and plan development.
Guidance note on the Quality Planning site.
"The purpose of this Guidance Note is:
To promote a good level of understanding about renewable energy, particularly the different types of renewable energy and the range of benefits that may be derived from such sources; and
To encourage local authorities to consider the benefits of renewable energy, and promote consistency in how such benefits are recognised, both in decision-making and policy and plan development.
Global warming hitting home in Auckland
Global warming is starting to affect the lifestyle of Aucklanders. The problems the Huntly power plant had this week in meeting its expected output can be linked to global warming.
Environmental Defence Society Spokesperson Garry Law said 'The temperature of the Waikato River has to be limited to protect the life in it. Four years ago the operators of Huntly had their resource consent amended so they could generate at 250 MW through the summer, while dumping the waste heat into the river. They based this on the temperature records from1988 when the river was at a record temperature, but still cool enough to allow this level of generation.
'Now this hope has proved unfounded. The river is clearly at new record temperatures and the plant cannot make the power expected.
'Four years ago there were no plans for cooling towers to push heat in to the atmosphere rather than the river. Now there are.
'Aucklanders can mark down 2005 as the year climate change started to bite, said Mr Law. 'It's only a start."
Global warming is starting to affect the lifestyle of Aucklanders. The problems the Huntly power plant had this week in meeting its expected output can be linked to global warming.
Environmental Defence Society Spokesperson Garry Law said 'The temperature of the Waikato River has to be limited to protect the life in it. Four years ago the operators of Huntly had their resource consent amended so they could generate at 250 MW through the summer, while dumping the waste heat into the river. They based this on the temperature records from1988 when the river was at a record temperature, but still cool enough to allow this level of generation.
'Now this hope has proved unfounded. The river is clearly at new record temperatures and the plant cannot make the power expected.
'Four years ago there were no plans for cooling towers to push heat in to the atmosphere rather than the river. Now there are.
'Aucklanders can mark down 2005 as the year climate change started to bite, said Mr Law. 'It's only a start."
Pete Hodgson: Climate change is coming, ready or not
Today the Kyoto Protocol comes into force and a new era in tackling climate change quietly gets under way. New Zealand is one of 141 nations to have ratified the protocol so far. All developed nations have ratified, except the United States, Australia and Monaco.
These days the scientific consensus is almost total - climate change is coming ready or not. The sceptics are receding, just like the Arctic ice-sheet. But there is still uncertainty about the precise degree of climate change and its particular effect on different parts of the world.
We know what the changes will be in general - higher temperatures, more floods, more storm surges, more hurricanes, more droughts, rising sea levels. But how much more? "
Today the Kyoto Protocol comes into force and a new era in tackling climate change quietly gets under way. New Zealand is one of 141 nations to have ratified the protocol so far. All developed nations have ratified, except the United States, Australia and Monaco.
These days the scientific consensus is almost total - climate change is coming ready or not. The sceptics are receding, just like the Arctic ice-sheet. But there is still uncertainty about the precise degree of climate change and its particular effect on different parts of the world.
We know what the changes will be in general - higher temperatures, more floods, more storm surges, more hurricanes, more droughts, rising sea levels. But how much more? "
Hodgson hails new era in climate change action
The Kyoto Protocol comes into force today, marking the start of a new era in global efforts to limit climate change, says Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson.
The Protocol has been ratified by 141 nations to date and sets binding emissions reductions targets for all of the world's developed nations except the US, Australia and Monaco.
'As New Zealanders, we have always done our bit to preserve our environment for the good of future generations,' says Pete Hodgson. 'We're now rising to the challenge posed by climate change; arguably the most important environmental issue the world has ever faced.'
The Kyoto Protocol is structured to enable economic growth at the same time as providing incentives to reduce emissions across both developed and developing nations. "
The Kyoto Protocol comes into force today, marking the start of a new era in global efforts to limit climate change, says Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson.
The Protocol has been ratified by 141 nations to date and sets binding emissions reductions targets for all of the world's developed nations except the US, Australia and Monaco.
'As New Zealanders, we have always done our bit to preserve our environment for the good of future generations,' says Pete Hodgson. 'We're now rising to the challenge posed by climate change; arguably the most important environmental issue the world has ever faced.'
The Kyoto Protocol is structured to enable economic growth at the same time as providing incentives to reduce emissions across both developed and developing nations. "
New Zealand rated 'A' for JI projects
Point Carbon’s latest assessment of joint implementation host countries finds New Zealand to be the most attractive place for JI investments. The country is rated 'A', the first awarded to any host country.
For more information on Point Carbon’s country ratings click here
The high score for New Zealand comes as a result of the country’s elaborate project approval procedure. The Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE) tender has so far resulted in 40 projects worth close to a reduction of 11 million tonnes of CO2e emissions, which can now be sold to foreign companies or governments. Several projects are currently being considered for purchase by Carboncredits, the Dutch government’s carbon procurement arm.
Point Carbon’s latest assessment of joint implementation host countries finds New Zealand to be the most attractive place for JI investments. The country is rated 'A', the first awarded to any host country.
For more information on Point Carbon’s country ratings click here
The high score for New Zealand comes as a result of the country’s elaborate project approval procedure. The Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE) tender has so far resulted in 40 projects worth close to a reduction of 11 million tonnes of CO2e emissions, which can now be sold to foreign companies or governments. Several projects are currently being considered for purchase by Carboncredits, the Dutch government’s carbon procurement arm.
Govt asked to stop Marsden B project
Greenpeace has joined Northland action groups and local iwi in a bid to stop Mighty River Power firing up the Marsden B power station.
A joint letter has been sent to Environment Minister Marian Hobbs, saying that allowing the project to go ahead would be counter to the Government's policies and international environmental obligations.
The letter says Marsden B would burn up to 830,000 tonnes of coal a year, releasing about two million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
'Climate change is the number one threat to the integrity of life on our planet and burning coal is one of the biggest causes,' Greenpeace said in a statement today. "
Greenpeace has joined Northland action groups and local iwi in a bid to stop Mighty River Power firing up the Marsden B power station.
A joint letter has been sent to Environment Minister Marian Hobbs, saying that allowing the project to go ahead would be counter to the Government's policies and international environmental obligations.
The letter says Marsden B would burn up to 830,000 tonnes of coal a year, releasing about two million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
'Climate change is the number one threat to the integrity of life on our planet and burning coal is one of the biggest causes,' Greenpeace said in a statement today. "
Top Energy's Ngawha power expansion still uncertain
It may be the end of the year before Top Energy knows if it will get consent approval to proceed with its proposed expansion of the Ngawha Power Station.
The company is appealing a decision by a joint hearings committee of the Northland Regional and Far North District Councils to decline its resource consent application to take more than twice the geothermal fluid currently used by the station.
Obtaining the consent would have allowed the company to expand the generation capacity of the station to meet up to 70 percent of the Far North's energy needs. "
It may be the end of the year before Top Energy knows if it will get consent approval to proceed with its proposed expansion of the Ngawha Power Station.
The company is appealing a decision by a joint hearings committee of the Northland Regional and Far North District Councils to decline its resource consent application to take more than twice the geothermal fluid currently used by the station.
Obtaining the consent would have allowed the company to expand the generation capacity of the station to meet up to 70 percent of the Far North's energy needs. "
Gas field could boost NZ supply by up to four years
A gasfield being explored in Taranaki could yield huge volumes and extend New Zealand's supply by three to four years.
The Herald understands there is growing excitement about preliminary results from onshore drilling by energy company Genesis on the Cardiff exploration licence area, 25km south of Kapuni.
Chief executive Murray Jackson yesterday downplayed the rumours, saying progress was promising but it was too soon to predict volumes. Genesis had drilled to 4000m and needed to go 900m deeper.
'It is showing all the right signals. Indications are the field is tight with no significant fractures that gas may have escaped from.'
But Mr Jackson said quantities of gas could not be properly estimated until drilling finished and the flow was flared, which should happen about the end of next month"
A gasfield being explored in Taranaki could yield huge volumes and extend New Zealand's supply by three to four years.
The Herald understands there is growing excitement about preliminary results from onshore drilling by energy company Genesis on the Cardiff exploration licence area, 25km south of Kapuni.
Chief executive Murray Jackson yesterday downplayed the rumours, saying progress was promising but it was too soon to predict volumes. Genesis had drilled to 4000m and needed to go 900m deeper.
'It is showing all the right signals. Indications are the field is tight with no significant fractures that gas may have escaped from.'
But Mr Jackson said quantities of gas could not be properly estimated until drilling finished and the flow was flared, which should happen about the end of next month"
US ready to join climate debate
The US is ready to talk about climate change, according to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
While the Kyoto Protocol was still taboo, the US was ready to talk about global warming at G8 summits, Blair said. He hoped the UK?s presidency of the G8 this year would result in consensus on climate change.
'I think the US is ready to come back into dialogue on this question,' Mr Blair told the House of Commons liaison committee.
He said he wanted to gain agreement on the involvement of developing countries from India and China as well as looking at technological solutions such as geosequestration of carbon dioxide and renewable energy sources."
The US is ready to talk about climate change, according to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
While the Kyoto Protocol was still taboo, the US was ready to talk about global warming at G8 summits, Blair said. He hoped the UK?s presidency of the G8 this year would result in consensus on climate change.
'I think the US is ready to come back into dialogue on this question,' Mr Blair told the House of Commons liaison committee.
He said he wanted to gain agreement on the involvement of developing countries from India and China as well as looking at technological solutions such as geosequestration of carbon dioxide and renewable energy sources."
Yes to Wind - Greenpeace New Zealand
Harnessing the natural power of the wind is essential to tackle global warming. Many wind proponents consider New Zealand to be the "Saudi Arabia of wind", with a quality and size of resource to make the rest of the world envious - but wind power needs your support. Yes2Wind has answers to all your questions about wind energy, and lots of ways for you to say YES! to a clean energy future.
Harnessing the natural power of the wind is essential to tackle global warming. Many wind proponents consider New Zealand to be the "Saudi Arabia of wind", with a quality and size of resource to make the rest of the world envious - but wind power needs your support. Yes2Wind has answers to all your questions about wind energy, and lots of ways for you to say YES! to a clean energy future.
Antarctic's ice 'melting faster'
A team of UK researchers claims to have new evidence that global warming is melting the ice in Antarctica faster than had previously been thought.
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (Bas) say the rise in sea levels around the world caused by the melting may have been under-estimated.
It is thought that over 13,000 sq km of sea ice in the Antarctic Peninsula has been lost over the last 50 years.
A team of UK researchers claims to have new evidence that global warming is melting the ice in Antarctica faster than had previously been thought.
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (Bas) say the rise in sea levels around the world caused by the melting may have been under-estimated.
It is thought that over 13,000 sq km of sea ice in the Antarctic Peninsula has been lost over the last 50 years.
