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Kyoto's threat to the essence of mauri
(How the Ausies see us)
So much for protocols when a New Zealand river may fall victim to carbon credits, writes Miranda Devine.
This is a story about a small town in New Zealand I visited over Easter, whose river is threatened by the unintended consequences of the Kyoto global warming treaty. The Waitahuna River runs through one of the prettiest and most pristine corners of the world, the green rolling hills of Otago, in the deep south of the South Island."

Carr calls for major NSW greenhouse gas cuts
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has expressed support for the Greenhouse Advisory Panel’s recommendations that the state cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. This is in response to the NSW energy directions green paper.
"I support it and I think beyond 2020 we are going to have great advances in technology that will enable a revolution in how we secure the power we need," Carr said according to the Herald Sun.

Scoop: Powerful action taken on climate change
Eastland Network Limited's proposed Mokairau wind farm near Gisborne is the first to be awarded emission units under the second round of the government's Projects to Reduce Emissions programme.
'The benefits this project is set to deliver are a direct consequence of New Zealand's decision to be part of global efforts to tackle climate change through the Kyoto Protocol,' says Gisborne based List MP, Moana Mackey.
'Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases helps preserve the environment for future generations of New Zealanders, while in the short term local communities will benefit from having a more secure electricity supply.'"

RealClimate ? Climate Science
The anti-sceptic site

Stephen H. Schneider, Climatologist
If you missed Stephen on his trip here, compensate with a visit to his web site.

ARC supports volcanic nominaitoni
The Auckland Regional Council this week confirmed it will be recommending two sites to the Department of Conservation (DoC) to be considered for World Heritage status.
After looking at a number of sites throughout the region, the ARC has singled out the Auckland Volcanic Field, including Rangitoto Island, and Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) as being the most appropriate sites to put forward for consideration.
ARC Director of Heritage, Graeme Murdoch, says that while there are many places throughout the Auckland region that are regionally and nationally significant, one of the key considerations is whether or not a site, or place really does have world status.
'There are a multitude of unique and special places throughout the region that are significant for a range of cultural and natural reasons. We have taken an objective view in determining whether or not we think a place genuinely is significant, and is of 'outstanding universal value', on a world-wide level.'
'Auckland's volcanoes, which dot the urban landscape, have become have become symbols for Auckland, and they are a feature of the region's landscape that make it distinctive from any other place in the world. The pa sites and other archaeological features remaining from historical Maori occupation of the volcanoes are of great cultural significance.'"

v"Carbon pleas 'considered':
Cabinet Minister Pete Hodgson had agreed to consider pleas from energy users for breaks on potentially costly carbon taxes, Comalco NZ managing director Tom Campbell said yesterday.
Members of the Greenhouse Policy Coalition, including Comalco, met Mr Hodgson, whose responsibilities include climate change, on Thursday to discuss what will happen to their negotiated greenhouse agreements (NGAs) beyond 2012.
Comalco would be directly exposed to a planned carbon tax through its smelter emissions and indirectly through electricity prices.
It could cost Comalco tens of millions of dollars.
Comalco is negotiating an agreement with the Government that would give it some exemption from direct carbon taxes in return for adopting environmental best international practice.
However, the NGAs the Government is negotiating, or has put in place, with companies such as New Zealand Refining Co are valid only until 2012.
Mr Campbell said Mr Hodgson had listened sympathetically to the group's concerns but agreed only to consider them. "

Comment: Extraordinary - The GPC companies expect to be underwritten for for ever the outcome of the CP2 negotiaitons are! They should be at the worlds best practice level of emissioons / energy efficiency by then and not need propping up. What are there alternatives? Will some other country guarantee a free emisison regime to Comalco past 2012? Fat chance. Hang tough Pete.

Emissions Control Forum
AETF Review.
A path for Australia to rejoin the global climate change effort (pdf download)

Comalco says carbon tax may force it out of NZ
Aluminium smelter and major export earner Comalco says the government's Kyoto protocol carbon tax will drive up electricity prices which may force it out of New Zealand.
Comalco, which operates the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter near Bluff uses about 15 per cent of New Zealand's electricity production and earns about $1 billion a year in export receipts.
At an electricity conference today in Auckland, Comalco's general manager of energy Mark Grenning said a carbon tax could raise the cost of electricity to an unacceptable level when its contract with state owned generator Meridian runs out in 2012 Radio New Zealand reported. "

Economy 'needs healthy climate'
The UK Chancellor has urged countries to work together for a healthier climate to ensure economic prosperity.
Gordon Brown was addressing ministers from 20 countries, who are meeting to discuss climate change and how to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
He told delegates that the UK had managed to cut carbon emissions without harming economic growth.
Mr Brown said economies could only flourish if the environment on which they depended was looked after.
'If our economies are to flourish, if global poverty is to be banished, and the well-being of the world's people enhanced, we must make sure we take care of the natural environment and resources on which our economic activity depends,' Mr Brown said in his speech.
'Environmental issues - including climate change - have traditionally been placed in a category separate from the economy. But this is no longer tenable.'

Holcim mulls north Otago cement plant
A $100 million cement manufacturing plant is being investigated for Weston, just inland from Oamaru, by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Swiss cement giant.
However, Holcim managing director Rex Williams warned yesterday the Weston proposal was only one of four options being explored by the world's second largest cement company to meet a growing demand for cement in New Zealand and worldwide.
The Weston proposal was one of four options being looked at by Holcim.
The other three were at Te Kuiti, expanding its Westport plant or importing cement.
Importing cement was an option because of the proposed carbon tax under the Kyoto agreement.

Scoping a National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission
Consideration of a National Policy Statement (NPS) for electricity transmission is currently underway. A reference group has been set up, comprising relevant departments and key stakeholder groups, to:
Develop a detailed outline of what the proposed NPS would cover (and not cover);
Confirm whether an NPS appears likely to be beneficial; and
Identify and scope related National Environmental Standards.
The page has links to newsletter updates on teh work of the group.

GREENHOUSE2005 - Action on climate change
Melbourne, 13-17 November, 2005
Take part in the most significant climate change conference in Australia in 2005.
Interest in climate change is high, particularly with regards to taking effective action. There is a clear need for industry, scientists and government at all levels to work closely together to tackle this significant environmental issue. Demand is strong for the latest information on the science, the likely impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies and approaches to reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The Conference will cover these themes as well as international issues, policy development, communication and education."

China adopts renewable energy law
China’s Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has passed a Renewable Energy Law to ease the energy strain, secure the country's energy security and better protect ecological environment. President of the P. R. China Hu Jintao signed and announced the law, which will enter into force on 1 January 2006.
In line with the law, the government will set a middle and long-term renewable target and develop and utilise a plan for renewable energy.

Meridian boss warns on power
The head of state-owned electricity generator and retailer Meridian Energy is calling on New Zealanders to decide now what electricity projects they want to go ahead, saying they can't continue to rule out major power generation and transmission developments.
Dr Keith Turner's call comes amid protests against plans by national grid operator Transpower to erect a high-voltage transmission line from Whakamaru in Waikato to Auckland, and plans by Mighty River Power to convert the unused coal-fired Marsden B power station in Northland to burn coal.
Turner has told an electricity summit in Auckland that in the last year alone the country has ruled out several major hydro developments, including Meridian's own Project Aqua, as well as a windfarm near Auckland."

Mighty River may spend $1b on new geothermal power stations
State electricity firm Mighty River Power may sink up to $1 billion in developing geothermal power stations in the north island in the next five years as part of ambitious investment plans.
This should curry favour with the Government, which is pushing the development of renewable energy sources.
The SOE is also expected this week to announce spending on gas exploration in Taranaki of about $20 million through buying into a gas prospect. "

NZ Genesis Power Puts Devt Of Coal-Fired Plants On Hold
Genesis Power Ltd. has put on hold plans to build two 400-megawatt coal-fired power plants due to uncertainty about coal supplies.
Genesis Power, a state-owned company, said Thursday that coal exporter Solid Energy Ltd. has revealed a 'significant shortfall' in economically recoverable coal reserves in the Waikato region, 500 kilometers north of Wellington.
Chief Executive Murray Jackson said in a statement that even with coal imports, available supply provided certainty of operation in the existing Huntly power station for only a further 17-years.

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