Climate change causing (another) food shock
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12:37 pm, July 12th, 2012 - 57 comments
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Climate change is causing the world’s temperatures and seas levels to rise but this isn’t a steady process. Instead we see more frequent and more extreme weather events. The record-busting heatwave in the US and floods in Russia are examples. So, a few people die of heat stroke and some others drown – so what, eh? Actually, the big problem is not the direct effects of these weather events on people but what they do to our production of food and other vital goods.
It’s a little acknowledged fact that the US is the world’s largest food exporter, supplying vast quantities of grains and soy in particular to the rest of the world.
The drought and heatwave is wreaking havoc.
Production from this year’s US corn crop is set to fall by 15%. short of forecast. This will be the third year in a row that heat has damaged the US’s corn crop. Along with other droughts and the ever-increasing demand from 70 million more humans per year, are the reasons that world corn reserves are at the lowest level since 1974 (which might be the lowest level on record, the article isn’t clear), with just a 8 week buffer. Corn is the world’s primary staple food.
The US has lost its position as the world’s largest exporter of wheat, the world’s second staple food, tom France (and prices jumped 18% in the second half of June as the extent of the US drought became clear.
The world’s soy supply is in even deeper trouble. Drought in South America has seen the world’s second and third largest exporters – Brazil and Argentina – record poor harvests this year and the US, the world’s largest soy exporter, is on the same track with just 40% of the crop rated in good or excellent condition during the vital growing period. World soy production won’t meet demand this year. Soy is the world’s number 6 staple food and a major source of animal feed.
That’s one country’s extreme weather event in one year. Now multiply that around the world, and over many years, with increasing frequency.
The talk about ‘food price inflation’ or ‘food price spikes’ (that one sounds nice and temporary) misses the fundamental point: the price is going up because demand is up and supply isn’t keeping up because growing conditions are being more regularly interrupted by severe weather (not to mention soil exhaustion, water contamination etc).
The only way to solve that problem is decrease the amount of food going into some mouths, or use the food we have more efficiently (as a direct human food source, not a feedstock for animals for example) – and the way we do that in our economic system is by pricing some people out of the market.
The question is who can pay more: the farmers who buy these staples as animal feed to produce meat for western tables, or the third world poor, who buy them to eat directly. Obviously, the most efficient answer in terms of getting the most calories into human mouths is a bit different from the result the market produces.
But, this is what climate change looks like. This is what we’ve brought on ourselves. It’s not a gradual, steady increase in temperatures that don’t become ‘serious’ until runaway heating starts. It comes earlier and more unpredictably than that. It’s more extreme climate events (new research has conclusively linked individual events to climate change for the first time), leading to shocks in our climate-dependent systems, most notably food production. This leads to higher food prices, shortages, and, as we saw with the food riots in 2008 and the Arab Spring that began in many countries with protests over food prices, social unrest. With the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, we have less time to recover and rebuild our buffers each time.
The shame of is that the first major climate change related disasters, like Katrina, could have been a wake-up call before things got too bad. But our leaders ignored them, and the vested interests denied them to maintain their short-term privilege.
[PS. Other new research suggests that the biosphere is absorbing more carbon dioxide as a result of climate change than thought. It has long been known that rising levels of carbon dioxide (to a point) would promote plant growth and so would a slight rise in temperatures, and this would see more carbon sequestered in soils. But the research shows the increase is enough to offset 10% of our carbon emissions, which is a lot more than previously thought. Before the deniers going popping any corks, however, the other 90% is more than enough to wreck the climate] [PPS. btw, you know the relatively mild and sunny winter we’re having – that’s a weather event with negative consequences too: the hydro-lake levels are at 77% of average for this time of year and inflows have been well below average all year – an industry source told me that the government would usually be talking about conservation measures with the lakes dipping below 2,000 GW/hr of storage, as they did in the last dry year – 2008 – but the government doesn’t want to talk about insecurity of supply while trying to hock off power companies]57 comments on “Climate change causing (another) food shock ”
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- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...20 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...3 days ago
- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...3 days ago
- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...3 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...3 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...4 days ago
- Judicial appointment announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...4 days ago
- GDP data highlights importance of growth
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...4 days ago
- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...4 days ago
- Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...4 days ago
- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...4 days ago
- Government boosts support for avian influenza response
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...5 days ago
- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...5 days ago
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...5 days ago
- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...5 days ago
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...5 days ago
- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...5 days ago
- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...5 days ago
- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...5 days ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...5 days ago
- A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...5 days ago
- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...5 days ago
- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...5 days ago
- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...5 days ago
- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...5 days ago
- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...5 days ago
- Māori ‘under siege’ in 2024, must fight back in 2025 – Ngarewa-Packer
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...17 minutes ago - The real story behind the Government’s maths narrative
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...17 minutes ago
- Pretty much every common nut in Aotearoa, reviewed and ranked
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...1 hour ago - What it’s like to be made redundant by the Ministry of Education
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...1 hour ago
- Why can’t I pick up my own dropped phone on a plane?
Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...1 hour ago
- Juggernaut: The ghosts of 1984
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...1 hour ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 hour ago
- Govt walks away from infrastructure alliance
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...1 hour ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 23 December
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- Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila
By , New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...7 hours ago - Signs of the hīkoi: More than just ‘words on cardboard’
The placards seen at the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti conveyed "huge kōrero with immediacy", expert says: "People know the power of the word." ...16 hours ago - A final Ode to .. King Luxon
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...24 hours ago
- A hater and an enthusiast review The Royal Free by Carl Shuker
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...1 day ago
- Survive to 25 (December, that is)
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...1 day ago
- All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...1 day ago
- Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...1 day ago
- NZ govt plans to make ‘heavy handed’ change to free speech rules for universities
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...1 day ago
- Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...1 day ago
- OECD Report Highlights That More Is Needed
This report reflects that gap in our dealings overseas, and it shows that legislators, the public sector and businesses need to walk the talk. ...2 days ago - Government quietly scraps waste minimisation policies
The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...2 days ago
- MEAA welcomes News MAP funding ‘leg up’ for Australian journalism
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...2 days ago
- Transmission Gully partnership breakdown will not hurt future public-private partnerships, Infrastru...
The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...2 days ago
- Funding cuts to charity particularly felt over Christmas period
The number of people seeking help from Lifeline is expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent over Christmas. ...2 days ago
- Nelson Hospital conditions ‘unbearable’ – staff
One worker says the building is decrepit and falling down around them. ...2 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Luxon at Xmas
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...2 days ago
- Stand by for cricket’s Smash Palace
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...2 days ago
- Early-onset dementia under the microscope
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...2 days ago
- Keeping the pirates at bay: Should the Australian ‘Blocking Order’ case prompt a discussion in N...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...2 days ago
- ‘We were as famous as Tom Cruise’: Craig Parker on 90s Shortland St fandom
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...2 days ago
- ‘I prioritise the mission, not my health’: Adam McGrath’s perfect weekend playlist
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...2 days ago
- The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes. Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...2 days ago
- Fiji pro-Palestine nativity scene exposes Gaza as ‘hell on earth’ at Christmas
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...2 days ago
- Vanuatu quake: ‘Our shop was flattened like a deck of cards’
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...2 days ago
- How diplomats have broken the law in NZ – and what happened next
A handful of foreign diplomats have misbehaved during their time here - and not all of them have been brought to justice. ...2 days ago
- Swim schools report sinking enrolments as downturn deepens
Being able to swim is often considered a life skill, but tough economic times are forcing many families to pull their children out of lessons. ...2 days ago
- ‘There will be deaths because of this’ – Warning over Health NZ IT cuts
A West Coast IT worker is warning patients will die as Health New Zealand aims to slash its data and digital staff. ...3 days ago
- Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished – minister
In a surprise move, the sale of polytechnics will be on the table when the national institute of technology Te Pūkenga is disestablished. ...3 days ago
- Parliament’s final sitting day an insight into party factions
On Parliament's last day of the year, there was a rare glimpse of the factions within the major parties. ...3 days ago
- Former Labour MP, North Shore mayor Ann Hartley dies
Former Labour MP and mayor of Auckland's North Shore City Ann Hartley has died. ...3 days ago
- The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes contro...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker. Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...3 days ago
Sounds like great economic news for a country producing grass-fed meat and dairy products.
Re the lake levels: if the average of something is 100 across all years and one year you only get 77, that doesn’t mean something terrible has happened, it means 100 is an average figure. If the average starts to go down, then you’ve got a problem…
Surely, if you have a 100-year average, and then six of the next 7 years are at 80-90% of the previous average and one year at 103% of average, then your average is falling…
Of course, besides that it’s great economic news until the farmers get hit by extreme weather events and fuel prices become a barrier to global trade.
This from NIWA:
Why will fuel prices become a barrier to Trade?
Oh, sorry, right – the supply of oil is unlimited. But that’s by the by because global warming doesn’t exist, if it is we’re not contributing it, and even if we are there’s nothing we as a species can do to stop it now, and even if we as a species could, the effects of what we as NZers can do will never be noticed eirther way, so really we should all move along, nothing to see here, business as usual…. / sarc
Tool.
Did you mean Peak oil?
George Monibot of the Guardian had an interesting article about that recently (see http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/02/peak-oil-we-we-wrong)
Did you believe that? Or are you just pretending? I hope for your sake it’s pretending, because it would be a real shame if you were that gullible.
It’s Gosman, he really is that gullible.
Sadly true.
Might be time to revisit and start investing in the next generation of sailing ships and steam engines. One wonders what sort of efficiencies could be achieved with modern technology.
Populuxe!
Steam engines need COAL to make them work, and stokers, like my late father, to keep the fires burning.
Tell that to the Greens.
Not necessarily. They could be fired with wood pellets or some chemical fuel cell.
chemical fuel cells are not a source of energy, they are a store of energy. Big difference. Fortran is right IMO. The world is going back to coal, and in a big way.
So you charge your fuel cell from solar or wind. You should see a proctologist about that anal retention, really.
You might think its a negligible difference in terminology, but trust me, primary energy sources are what matters in the future, and it won’t do to mistake a fuel tank (which is what a battery or fuel cell is) for fuel itself.
Refuted by all, predictably I admit, but nevertheless correctly. Nicole Foss has an interesting ongoing dialogue… http://theautomaticearth.com/Energy/peak-oil-a-dialogue-with-george-monbiot.html
christ, you’re still quoting that article based on a paper by an oil executive?
You should do 5 minutes of research. that paper has been ripped to shreds by everyone who looked at it, except for Monbiot, who said that it’s going to doom us to frying ourselves instead.
tool
Goose stepper All the countries That export oil are politically stable.Yeah right.
The Arab spring is going to turn into a nightmare as these countries will more than likely end up going back wards and will hold onto their oil because it will go up in price selling it now is stupid .Like YOu and your thinking these countries are not going to be lapdogs any more to the wealthy corporations and the western democracies.
Peak oil or not FUElLprices are going up and up this lull in the market is just that.
Gosman, are you the same Gosman I knew from the Sensing Murder forum? The one who challenged Kelvin Kruickshank to divine your middle name – and then ended up looking a bit foolish when he managed to do just that?
+1 dreaded 1 I would have asked crookshank the winning lotto numbers if he’s that good.
No psychic tomfoolery involved. Gosman made some dim comment along the lines of, “If you’re so clever, what’s my middle name”. Kruikshank then indicated he knew it, and Gosman got all blustery and oh-it’s-not-too-difficult-to-find-that-out-using-google-based-on-the-information-I-gave-you-esque. Rather missing the salient point – if it was so bloody easy, why ask him in the first place. 10 cent bombast and cheap sniping was his stock in trade there, rather gave those of us on the sane, anti-psychic faction a bad name. I recall him expressing some admiration for An Rand back then, so I suspect it is the same one.
Ummmm…. pretty sure you made this story up. I certainly never challenged anyone with such a purile test of psychic ability. By the way what was his answer in your made up story? Should be good for a laugh at least.
Can’t seem to reply to Gosman’s comment below directly. Cruikshank identified the person who challenged him as ‘Nigel no mates’ and the challenger (Pretty sure it was you, might have been one of the other skeptics, there were a couple of loose cannons) admitted, after a bit of huffing and puffing, that his middle name was Nigel, but that there was nothing remarkable about that.
If it it wasn’t you, I apologise for the misidentification. Who was the other one who was always screaming on about challenges and offering rewards and stuff? It might have been him.
Cruikshank identified the person who challenged him as ‘Nigel no mates’ and the challenger (Pretty sure it was you, might have been one of the other skeptics, there were a couple of loose cannons) admitted, after a bit of huffing and puffing, that his middle name was Nigel, but that there was nothing remarkable about that.
If it it wasn’t you, I apologise for the misidentification. Who was the other one who was always screaming on about challenges and offering rewards and stuff? It might have been him.
Shortly after Gosman’s post above, someone started posted an obscene comment (or perhaps an offer of lovin’) on my blog. Surely a remarkable coincidence?
My middle name isn’t Nigel or anything remotely like it. Also I’m curious how he was meant to find out this detail from an internet search when I don’t advertise my name on forums generally. The other person was Ynot. He is actually a lefty so don’t think he was extolling the virtues of Ayn Rand. Quite possibly doing the opposite and you once again misinterpreted.
Nah, I remember Ynot. He was pretty sane. Ditto Ginarley. Must have been the other one, whose nick escapes me all together. But you do love Ayn Rand, don’t you?
Never met the woman.
That’s not precisely a denial. Was Sharman active on the SM forum, or did he just lurk in the background, pretending he was some sort of General of Scepticism, and we were his troops? He was a bit of a mad fanatic. Don’t think it was him I’m trying to recall, however. Though he was erratic enough.
Another one for ya
>The many misunderstandings he relays begin with the title. There is more than enough potential oil resource below ground to create the climate disaster he refers to. Peak oil is not about that. It is about when global production falls never again to reach past levels: a disaster, if the descent hits an oil-dependent global economy years ahead of expectations. This descent depends on flow rates in oilfields, not the amount of oil left. What worries those who believe the global oil peak is imminent is the evidence that the oil industry will not be able to maintain growing flow rates for much longer.
Posted by
Jeremy Leggett
Wednesday 4 July 2012 13.23 BST guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/jul/04/monbiot-wrong-peak-oil?newsfeed=true
Yep. It doesn’t matter how much water there is left in the lake if the only way you can drink from it is through a straw.
How will increased fuel prices become a barrier to trade: by increasing the end-cost of imports beyond the ability of large numbers of people to pay for them – resulting lower volumes leading to less cost efficiency, food riots causing uncertain market conditions. That sort of thing.
Because…fekk I am so Bored of explaining so perhaps have a read of this fabulous fellow, says what I would except, hard as you may find it to believe, well….better.
http://cluborlov.com/
oil prices are already becoming a barrier to trade. Oil is a third of the running cost of shipping lines
here’s a short article, I know you won’t bother to read anything longer: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-07/news/31610751_1_tonnage-tax-dry-bulk-bunker-fuel
Just lately I read that Maersk are tightening the screws with threats of increased freight rates – yes, the company that is inciting attacks on the wages and conditions of NZ port workers. It seems the poor devils aren’t getting big enough margins so with deep regret they are going to rack up their prices.
Elsewhere I read that trans-oceanic freight vessels are reducing their speeds so as to cut back on fuel consumption.
goose brain If you can’t figure that out I can see why you are sucked in by the neo liberal BS you spew.
No brains no pain.
Fuel is one of the single biggest costs on farm.
Transport they use fuel in vast quantities to move Fertilizers(Mind you we could just use you and your right wing miopic idoit BS you lot spew would solve that problem)
and product to market.
Goose if that becomes to expensive people will produce product where the market is not 20,000 km away .
Gosman. Try thinking about the cost of transporting things if the price of transporting them is rising. Think about the impact on prices of the items if the cost of transporting them rises.
Simple mathematics.
Derp.
You have failed time series statistics 101, please try again…
aka that’s only useful for long term changes, if you want to see what’s happening in the short term you need to use time intervals which are just big enough to be statistically significant, which is derived from the amount of noise in the data set.
I don’t believe it takes an in-depth knowledge of time-series stats to notice the problem with concluding something terrible is happening because this number is lower than the average.
“Sounds like great economic news for a country producing grass-fed meat and dairy products.”
Much of the dairy industry in NZ is dependent on palm kernel imported from Malaysia. Even in somewhere like Southland, where if you can’t grow grass fed animals there is something seriously wrong, they do this shit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6082219/Dairys-carbon-footprint-under-fire-again
Foot in Mouth with this comment I’m afraid.
Approx 95% of feed fed to dairy/beef stock is grown on farm in NZ.
Palm Kernal is a relatively minor input on dairy farms.
Having said that, dozens of dairy farms would go under asap if it wasn’t for palm kernel and tapioca imports maintaining high production levels.
Basically those dairy farmers have overstocked beyond the point the land can cope with even using intensive highly fertilised and highly irrigated pasture growth.
What CV said. This isn’t farming as we’ve known it. It’s strip mining and then exporting the fertility of the land to the nth degree. We can only hope that the dairy industry collapses sooner rather than later and leaves us some fertile land to grow actual food on once the shit hits the fan hard enough to affect NZ.
Massive amounts of fertiliser poured on, mixed with added water to get the pasture growth they need.
On farms like that the land is simply being used as a hydroponics operation. Its not even farming the land any more.
Cognitive dissonance? Have a read of Orlov on why the population in general even when they hear the bad news fail to respond. We are acting like rabbits in the headlights, unfortunately for us the car wont stop before peak Oil strikes….splat!
http://cluborlov.com/
What a difference a year makes. May 2011:
Just shut up and let it happen.
That’s the only way it’s going to stop.
Prove me wrong.
Would now be an opportune moment to rethink our relationship with water in NZ?
I read a fun fact the other day – photosynthesis stops working @ 40C and @ 35C it is only about 50% as ‘productive’ which is ok if the world was eating cactus, but wheat, barley, corn, and soy hmmm
Temperature directly affects the ability of enzymes and thus enzyme processes that take place in the leaf of a plant. In recent research, the effects of both high temperature and low temperature have similar outcomes, but these results occur via different path ways.
High temperature affects the structure of an enzyme. Although high temperature related to activity can be beneficial, there is a point on every enzymes activity curve where activity rapidly decreases. This decrease in activity is due to the heat energy associated with high temperatures. Denaturation is the unraveling of a protein’s (all enzymes are proteins, but not all proteins are enzymes!) tertiary structure, or its double helical- three dimensional conformation. This is in its most basic sense, changing the shape of an enzyme. More over, the shape of an enzyme is its primary tool for catalyzing reactions that would otherwise be too energy consuming to process (enzymes lower the energy of activation of a particular reaction i.e. they lower the amount of energy necessary to activate a reaction). When this shape is distorted by damaging heat, the enzyme can no longer function as an effective unit in the process of photosynthesis.
There are many enzymes that play key roles in the synthesis of carbohydrates by photosynthesis. Eliminating just one will likely halt production until conditions are once again favorable.
https://wiki.umn.edu/view/FR_3104_5104/PhotoSynthesis
“you know the relatively mild and sunny winter we’re having – that’s a weather event with negative consequences too:”
No doubt James, but as we get older we fell the cold more, so even if the winters are warmer they still fell colder and the young, well they have nothing to judge the present temperature against, like they care anyway, the look out the window diagnoses will never get us anywhere short term, until the cows start flying by the window and even then I doubt it will sink in.
The summers were much longer and warmer when I were a kid.
Outsider if you didn’t stay inside all the time your story would be believable
Accepting many of the comments above, here is perhaps some better news. Growing food need not be a disaster waiting to happen. This series of permaculture
videos
is worth watching
What could be done
Reaction to recent events in America, from Peter Sinclair – of “Climate Crock of the Week”.
“We’ll adapt to that” – empty words exposed.
And yet again, an opinion on rising prices for food staples misses the big bloody elephant in the room. Which is simply this: that only the staples that are subject to speculative trading rise in price. (Have potatoes or sorghum prices gone through the ceiling? No.) And as for all the shit being spouted about failed Russian wheat harvests last year (as though that drove the global price of wheat up) the global wheat production was the largest it had ever been.
Which is not to say that global warming ain’t producing weather that’s whacking harvests. Just that supply and demand isn’t driving prices. Bankers/speculators are.
Well they got to dump all that freshly printed USD into some market somewhere, right? And starving poor people on the other side of the world is no problem of consequence for a London City or New York trader.
What a self righteous wanker!
How many new York or London city traders do you know?
Do you claim to have knowledge of their colletctive conscience ?