ETS Archive

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  A trans-Tasman ETS? - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Yesterday our PM announced with Australia’s PM that officials would be starting work to align the eventual Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) across the ditch with our own. Julia Gillard seems however to have received some misinformation about our ETS: Gillard said Australia needed to catch up with New Zealand on pricing carbon, saying New Zealand’s [...] read more
  June 21, 2011 1:46 pm - 7 Comments
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  Play the ‘Keep the coal in the hole’ Tetris game - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Today I launched a Member’s Bill and a tetris-like computer game as a part of our campaign to keep dirty lignite coal in the hole. Lignite is bad for the environment and our economy. We should be pursuing modern renewable energy solutions, not 19th Century coal. First the serious part. The Climate Change Response (Low [...] read more
  May 26, 2011 2:26 pm - 3 Comments
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  How much will the ETS cost the average farmer? - by frog

  
  
  
  With Labour’s announcement about bringing forward the ETS there has been a bit of hype  about what that means. John Key talks about it as if the ETS is like throwing our dairy industry to the wolves with similar comments by others. There has been a lot of rhetoric but few hard figures. How much [...] read more
  May 24, 2011 3:06 pm - 29 Comments
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  Lignite and IT problems - by frog

  
  
  
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has completed a report entitled Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal. “The plans to increase lignite use are extremely concerning as they would produce huge quantities of carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change – the biggest environmental threat we have ever faced.” The [...] read more
  December 9, 2010 3:48 pm - 2 Comments
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  MEUG complains $145m free money isn’t enough - by frog

  
  
  
  The Major Electricity Users Group (MEUG) is complaing that the $145 million cash dollars of taxpayer money that Nick Smith’s ETS will give them between now and the end of 2012 is simply not enough free money. read more
  September 3, 2010 2:23 pm - 15 Comments
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  Russel Norman on Back Benches (ETS special) - by frog

  
  
  
  The pub was packed last Wednesday evening, with a solid Green contingent supporting Russel! You briefly can see our table at the end of Chapter 2 when Wilber won a book about something or other. You can watch the show at http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/s2010-e26-emissions-trading-special-video-3736153 I think Russel did really well – as usual there was a lot [...] read more
  August 28, 2010 11:28 am - 27 Comments
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  Phased milestones vs ‘Nanny State’: Exchanging views with Mr Brownlee - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  I questioned Gerry Brownlee in the House about his recent draft Energy Strategy. The ideological blinkers are clearly preventing us from moving purposefully towards a low-carbon economy. read more
  August 5, 2010 10:02 am - 25 Comments
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  Hugging trees: with a spade, trap and chainsaw - by frog

  
  
  
  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 - by frog

  
  
  
  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 [...] read more
  December 2, 2009 12:54 pm - 10 Comments
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  Should we be worried? Damn right we should… - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  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 - by frog

  
  
  
  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 [...] read more
  November 18, 2009 1:50 pm - 128 Comments
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  What Would Rod Say? - by frog

  
  
  
  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 [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 5:33 pm - 68 Comments
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  Think our native forests were safe? Think again. - by frog

  
  
  
  “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 - by frog

  
  
  
  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 - by frog

  
  
  
  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 - by frog

  
  
  
  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 [...] read more
  October 7, 2009 10:05 am - 19 Comments
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  ETS is sure to spur growth – but what kind? - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  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
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  ETS makes us the seventh state - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  It is clear from the minister’s briefing last night that the main purpose of National’s changes to the ETS is to make us effectively the seventh state of Australia. The bill mimics exactly the bill the Rudd government has been trying (unsuccessfully) to get through the Australian senate. So a bill that has been twice [...] read more
  September 24, 2009 9:17 am - 8 Comments
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  Wild and perverse ETS disincentives - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  For the first six months of this year, wilding pine control cost DOC $811,000 in carbon liabilities – a large amount for a department that has already had its budget for this year cut by $13.5 million. That money could have saved some endangered species, increased the area of land under pest control, or – got rid of more wilding pines. read more
  September 22, 2009 1:27 pm - 39 Comments
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  Is Methanex poised to rort the taxpayer with National’s help? - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Methanex could get $87 million in free credits each year. Under the Labour scheme Methanex would have paid for their growth. Under National’s scheme, taxpayers do. read more
  September 20, 2009 10:09 am - 21 Comments