Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, December 11th, 2007 - 7 comments
There’s a new taxi fleet servicing Wellington and (in three days time) Auckland. The vehicles are all Toyota Prius hybrids and the company, Greencabs, also offsets the residual emissions making it, they claim, the country’s first carbon neutral taxi company. They tell me they’re also the cheapest in town – presumably because the fuel consumption …
Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, December 7th, 2007 - 15 comments
The PM has launched a new website, sustainability.govt.nz challenging citizens to commit to doing one thing to help contribute to a “sustainable nation”.
Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, December 6th, 2007 - 15 comments
From the Guardian: “Australia yesterday joined the fold of rich countries committed to tackling climate change by signing the Kyoto agreement to limit CO2 emissions, at once distancing itself from the US and ending a 10-year diplomatic exile on the issue.” So where does that leave the US? And as for Mr Key, he’s struggled …
Written By: - Date published: 2:54 pm, December 5th, 2007 - 5 comments
Popular Science has recently announced its “Grand Award Winner” in the “Green” category: PowerSheet solar cells. ‘Imagine a solar panel without the panel. Just a coating, thin as a layer of paint, that takes light and converts it to electricity… “You’re talking about printing rolls of the stuff—printing it on the roofs of 18-wheeler trailers, …
Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, November 29th, 2007 - 12 comments
From the NYT: Google, the Internet company with a seemingly limitless source of revenue, plans to get into the business of finding limitless sources of energy… Google said it would spend hundreds of millions of dollars, part of that to hire engineers and energy experts to investigate alternative energies like solar, geothermal and wind power. …
Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, November 20th, 2007 - 1 comment
Fortunately we have a government that’s prepared to act on climate change rather than gamble with the future. Nevertheless here’s an interesting take on the importance of a meaningful response to climate change based on everybody’s favourite PHIL101 poser: Pascal’s Wager. He’s also done a follow-up to answer some of the questions and objections that …
Written By: - Date published: 8:26 pm, November 15th, 2007 - 10 comments
Esteemed Tory Brit-econ-pop-enviro-guru Nigel Lawson, Lord of Blaby, dad of Nigella, is not bonkers. Lord Blaby (Ed: shurely not? Wot? It is true?), who is visiting New Zealand, allegedly to attend a Business Roundtable party, told TVNZ’s Breakfast that the world could adjust to global warming because people don’t find Singapore too hot to do …
Written By: - Date published: 4:26 pm, November 15th, 2007 - 20 comments
The Business Roundtable has invited Nigel Lawson, British Chancellor of the Exchequer under Thatcher, to speak to them on climate change. Inevitably, Lawson is a climate change denier. His message is that climate change is a replacement for communism and mainstream religion. He says people who are concerned about climate change are ‘eco-fundamentalists’ and ‘climate …
Written By: - Date published: 4:22 am, November 14th, 2007 - 3 comments
The BBC has a good roundup of the top 10 climate change denier arguments with rebuttals from scientists who agree with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: that it’s happening, it’s due to us, and the potential damage is serious. Worthwhile reading for those who still find themselves in these kinds of arguments in the …
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 pm, October 24th, 2007 - 19 comments
The NZ Institute needs to look a bit more closely before leaping into print. The strangest thing about its exhortation that NZ should be a climate change ‘fast follower’ is that is precisely the position we’re in right now. The government has announced its emissions trading scheme. It will be fully up and running by …
Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, October 24th, 2007 - 3 comments
Lights Out San Francisco is a citywide energy conservation event next scheduled for March 29, 2008. On this night, they invite the entire city of San Francisco to install one compact fluorescent light bulb and turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour. Below are a couple of shots from the event run four days …
Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, October 24th, 2007 - 3 comments
The New Zealand Institute has come out imploring us to be a “fast follower” rather than a leader in the race to reduce greenhouse gases. John Key was predictably on the spot to take the credit, claiming that the Institute was essentially “making the same point I’ve been making around climate change”. Wasn’t the point …
Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, October 23rd, 2007 - 25 comments
In an effort to play an even larger part in the fight against global warming the New Zealand government today announced the purchase of 20 specially produced Toyota Prius Hybrid limousines. These fuel efficient, environmentally friendlier vehicles will gradually replace the current crop of Ministerial vehicles. The car will seat up to ten people and …
Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, October 16th, 2007 - 5 comments
It’s environmental blog action day. Bloggers worldwide are being encouraged to post on an environmental issue of importance to them. One issue. One day. Thousands of voices. DPF got in first this morning but I’ve got to admit to being a little disappointed with the content. His post on environment is essentially ‘Colin Espiner says …
Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, October 13th, 2007 - 5 comments
Gore shared the Nobel prize with the UN climate panel for their for their international work to promote the importance of addressing global warming. This won’t come as good news to the climate change deniers out there, one of whom recently challenged the accuracy of the film in court following the UK government’s decision to …
Written By: - Date published: 4:48 pm, September 28th, 2007 - 1 comment
Here’s one for the books. Matthew Hooten on 9 to Noon this morning: PRESENTER: Ah, right, we better start with climate change policy announcement… How do you think it went, Matthew. HOOTON: Well, I have to say it was probably the most successful policy announcement by a government in a democracy that I’ve ever heard …
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 pm, September 26th, 2007 - 2 comments
Here’s an online game that aims to show you what the world would look like if everyone lived like you… The site asks you a series of questions about your lifestyle, and as you play, it will show you how many “Earths” of natural resources it would take to sustain all 6.6 billion humans. if …
Written By: - Date published: 5:00 pm, September 24th, 2007 - 5 comments
Here’s a tip you can take to the bank: if you’re ever worried you’re no good at your job and need some cheering up, you can’t go too far wrong with Heather Roy’s Diary. Of all the dreadful, party-approved pap that streams out of Parliament on a Friday afternoon, Heather’s newsletter is surely the pick …
Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, September 21st, 2007 - 1 comment
Hi, my name’s Richard Worth and I’m a climate change denier.ÂÂ I’ve been clean for one day – since yesterday when my Party endorsed the Labour government’s climate change policy – but today I’m back to my old ways. Hat-tip Idoit/Savant from No Right Turn.
Written By: - Date published: 6:09 pm, September 20th, 2007 - 12 comments
What the hell’s going on? This press release from Bill English today under the heading “Emissions Regime Proposal Looks Sound”: It goes on to say; “National Party Deputy Leader Bill English says the climate change framework announced by the Government today is in line with National’s proposals in this area”. Please, please, does anyone imagine …
Written By: - Date published: 5:25 pm, September 20th, 2007 - 2 comments
The big political news of the day was the government announcement of an emissions trading scheme. This scheme puts a price on carbon emissions and is intended to incentivise more efficient use of fuel and energy. The trading scheme’s the centrepiece of the climate change policy but there’s a lot around the edges. David Parker …
Written By: - Date published: 11:47 am, September 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
John Key was born in Auckland but moved to Christchurch when a child. He was educated at Burnside High School and then gained a B.Comm from the University of Canterbury. John launched his investment banking career in New Zealand in the mid 80s. After 10 years in the New Zealand market he headed offshore, working …
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, September 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
Bill has been an MP since 1990 when he was elected to the former seat of Wallace in the rural heartland of the south of the South Island. Now renamed Clutha-Southland, the electorate is truly home to Bill English as it encompasses the town of Dipton where he was born in December 1961 and Winton …
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, September 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
David was born in 1952, and attended St Bede’s College in Christchurch. He is one of six current Members of Parliament who attended St Bede’s College. He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree at Lincoln University before embarking on a farming and business career. David currently farms a 2,500 stock unit farm on Banks …
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, September 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
John has diverse experience of life and a successful career in the foreign service and business. He was concerned about the direction New Zealand was taking and decided to support Don Brash and the National team. He has been campaigning full time for National since October. After a period working as an economist John joined …
Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, September 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
Brian Connell, 46, is a farmer and former international business consultant. After graduating with a BA in History and Geography from Massey, and studying for a Diploma in Teaching, he became a primary, then a secondary school teacher for several years, following which he joined middle management in State Bank, in Victoria, Australia. Later he …
Written By: - Date published: 1:06 pm, September 19th, 2007 - 2 comments
Arrrrg, the starrrrs must be aligned. Not only is it international talk like a pirate day and a day of significance to Pastafarians worldwide but it’s also the day before the government announces its carbon emission trading scheme. Having not yet seen the scheme the Nats don’t really know what to say as evidenced by …
Written By: - Date published: 6:22 pm, September 11th, 2007 - 3 comments
Did anyone else see the anti-John Key posters in Wellington yesterday morning? It was every National Party spin doctor’s worst nightmare: a picture of John Key looking rattled and wrinkled, placed on a black background next to the words that will no doubt come to haunt him during the election campaign: “Climate change is a …
Written By: - Date published: 5:20 pm, September 6th, 2007 - 12 comments
Greenpeace seems strangely surprised at John Key’s statement that George Bush and John Howard are “going in the right direction” on climate change and his refusal to criticise them for not signing up to Kyoto. Here’s Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid: John Key’s support for John Howard and George Bush’s stance on climate change is …
Written By: - Date published: 10:28 am, August 20th, 2007 - Comments Off
For those who asked for them here are the conflicting quotes from John on climate change. As Goff points out in the video below, Key’s now on record as flip-flopping on two of the biggest issues facing the world today: Iraq and climate change. Key proudly calls himself a “risk-taker”. It’s one thing to risk …
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