ETS Archive

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  Hugging trees: with a spade, trap and chainsaw

  
  
  
  A Wellington couple, entreprenuerial tree-huggers if you wish, criticise Fed Farmer’s head-in-the-sand attitude on climate change in the Nelson Mail today. They’ve invested in carbon farming a 47ha block of marginal land in Golden Bay. Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall aren’t wringing their hands or seeking emissions subsidy handouts; they’re getting their hands dirty planting [...] read more
  December 2, 2009 1:16 pm - No Comments
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  Problems with emissions trading – The Story of Cap & Trade

  
  
  
  A compelling wee video that exposes the problems of emissions trading from the same person that made The Story of Stuff. The Greens have been keen on a carbon tax since 1993, and only supported Labour’s ETS after much soul searching and negotiating some big improvements as it was the only game in town. It was relatively [...] read more
  December 2, 2009 12:54 pm - 10 Comments
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  Should we be worried? Damn right we should…

  
  
  
  The NZIER has put out another of their ‘Insights’ papers, this time highlighting just how vulnerable our exports are to consumer perceptions that our goods are not sustainably produced. An urgent risk identified is that we are perceived as a country not making serious attempts to reduce our carbon emission, which will give our competitors an opportunity to turn market preferences away from our export products and services. read more
  November 30, 2009 11:20 am - 5 Comments
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  A government at war with its own Treasury

  
  
  
  In all the time I’ve been hopping around Parliament I’ve never heard a statement more extraordinary than this one: The numbers from Treasury are nonsense. Treasury can’t tell us what the deficit is going to be in December let alone what’s happening in 2030 or 2040. Now, I’ll admit to having a go at Treasury forecasting myself [...] read more
  November 18, 2009 1:50 pm - 128 Comments
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  What Would Rod Say?

  
  
  
  This first anniversary of the National-led government is also the fourth anniversary of the death of former Green Party Co-Leader, Rod Donald. With the many retrospectives being written about the “new” government, my thoughts turn today to what Rod might have thought about the developments of the last year. There’s been commentary claiming the government hasn’t [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 5:33 pm - 68 Comments
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  Think our native forests were safe? Think again.

  
  
  
  “Agricultural intensification over the past 10 years has led to the highest rate of native vegetation loss since European colonisation.” Landcare Research Annual Report read more
  November 2, 2009 11:29 am - 18 Comments
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  Fancy that. Kiwis hate National’s ETS

  
  
  
  It was no surprise to me to find this morning a new ShapeNZ poll shows Kiwis overwhelmingly reject National’s proposed changes to the ETS. Eighty-two percent of National voters believe emitters should pay for any emissions in excess of New Zealand’s agreed limit under the Kyoto treaty, not taxpayers. Among Maori Party voters this rises to ninety-one percent. read more
  November 2, 2009 9:18 am - 12 Comments
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  George Orwell would be impressed with ETS minions

  
  
  
  In a classic case of doublethink, the minions at the Ministry for the Environment have withheld all the contents of an ETS cabinet document clearly labelled “Approved for Release”. read more
  October 13, 2009 3:59 pm - 66 Comments
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  One week left to submit on flawed ETS

  
  
  
  I’m using Nick Smith’s own words from last year because they are so suitable. This Government’s ETS legislation is so flawed and so rushed that it will require significant amendments after the election to make it workable. In the meantime, the rushed consultation period is coming to a close, hot on the heels of the urgency [...] read more
  October 7, 2009 10:05 am - 19 Comments
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  ETS is sure to spur growth – but what kind?

  
  
  
  Now here’s a great idea for economic development. Extract lignite, the lowest quality coal, very wet and of low calorific value. Add copious water pollution, coal seam methane and land disturbance from open cast mining. read more
  October 1, 2009 6:45 am - 20 Comments