February breaks all records

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, March 15th, 2016 - 93 comments
Categories: climate change, global warming, leadership - Tags: , , , ,

Scientists are running out of superlatives:

February breaks global temperature records by ‘shocking’ amount

Global temperatures in February smashed previous monthly records by an unprecedented amount, according to Nasa data, sparking warnings of a climate emergency.
…

The global surface temperatures across land and ocean in February were 1.35C warmer than the average temperature for the month, from the baseline period of 1951-1980. The global record was set just one month earlier, with January already beating the average for that month by 1.15C above the average for the baseline period.
…
“We are in a kind of climate emergency now,” Stefan Rahmstorf, from Germany’s Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research and a visiting professorial fellow at the University of New South Wales, told Fairfax Media. “This is really quite stunning … it’s completely unprecedented,” he said.

gloabal-warming-temperature-graph-feb-2016

 

The evidence that we have significantly underestimated the speed of climate change is mounting steadily.

93 comments on “February breaks all records ”

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  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    15 March 2016 at 10:32 am

    Now all we have to do is wait for a bunch of white males over 40 to tell us either a) scientists don’t know what they are talking about or b) its a hoax driven by the illuminati or some other conspiratorial group.

  2. johnm 2
    15 March 2016 at 10:49 am

    Current CO2 level is 404 and climbing. Methane is also increasing giving a further CO2 equivalent of 200ppm. I’ve just had a number of small trees removed which have died from yet another Summer drought.

    • johnm 2.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:12 am

      kevin moore Says:
      March 13th, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      405ppm. And from around this time of the year to the end of May the atmospheric CO2 concentration normally surges by 3 or 4ppm.

      https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/wp-content/plugins/sio-bluemoon/graphs/mlo_two_years.png

      The situation with regard to Arctic ice is less clear; another couple of weeks will probably clarify it.

      http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/

    • johnm 2.2
      15 March 2016 at 11:32 am

      February Smashes Earth’s All-Time Global Heat Record by a Jaw-Dropping Margin

      By Jeff Masters and Bob Henson

      ‘ March 14, 2016 “Information Clearing House” – “WunderBlog” – On Saturday, NASA dropped a bombshell of a climate report. February 2016 has soared past all rivals as the warmest seasonally adjusted month in more than a century of global recordkeeping. NASA’s analysis showed that February ran 1.35°C (2.43°F) above the 1951-1980 global average for the month, as can be seen in the list of monthly anomalies going back to 1880. The previous record was set just last month, as January 2016 came in 1.14°C above the 1951-1980 average for the month. In other words, February has dispensed with this one-month-old record by a full 0.21°C (0.38°F)–an extraordinary margin to beat a monthly world temperature record by. Perhaps even more remarkable is that February 2015 crushed the previous February record–set in 1998 during the peak atmospheric influence of the 1997-98 “super” El Niño that’s comparable in strength to the current one–by a massive 0.47°C (0.85°F). ‘

      http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44427.htm

    • TC 2.3
      15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

      Yes and our part of nz had a perfect 2016 with rain over 150mm each month so far making the local farmers very happy.

      Its all over the place now

    • johnm 2.4
      15 March 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Antarctica on the Brink: NASA Emeritus Scientist Warns of Dramatic Loss of Glaciers
      Monday, 14 March 2016 00:00 By Dahr Jamail, Truthout | Interview

      Scientific reports about the increasing pace of melting ice — in all its forms around the planet — are being published on a nearly daily basis.

      A study published in January revealed a dramatic increase in melt rates on Antarctica’s most stable ice shelf, when it showed that melting rates were 25 times higher than expected.

      This disconcerting news comes a year after another study, which showed that the largest glacier in eastern Antarctica (Totten Glacier), which by itself contains the ice equivalent of a 20-foot rise in global sea levels, is melting due to warming ocean waters.

      Other reports showing how increasingly warm ocean waters are contributing to an accelerating melting of large portions of Antarctica continue to be published on a regular basis.

      http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35202-antarctica-on-the-brink-nasa-emeritus-scientist-warns-of-dramatic-loss-of-glaciers

      • johnm 2.4.1
        17 March 2016 at 10:27 am

        Tourists banned from hiking on stunning New Zealand glaciers that have been popular attractions for more than a century because the ice is melting too quickly

        New Zealand’s most renowned glaciers are too dangerous for tourist to trek to from the bottom of the mountain
        Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting too quickly ending a traditional hike that dates back a century
        The two glaciers usually snake down from the mountain to a temperate rainforest but are now melting rapidly
        With no signs of a turnaround from warm conditions, scientists say global warming is impacting the environment
        See more of the latest New Zealand news and updates as climate change affects its stunning glaciers

        Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3494892/Tourists-banned-hiking-New-Zealand-s-glaciers-Fox-Franz-Josef-ice-melting-quickly-global-warming.html#ixzz436UA8Hn6
        Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

  3. weka 3
    15 March 2016 at 10:50 am

    Not to worry, looks like Paul Henry has interviewed an expert on how to survive the Apocalypse. Apparently we need a bow and arrows, and we when the shtf we should “go to rural places, small communities, the bush or head to the coastline”.

    I can tell you this, if Paul Henry turns up in my small rural community we’ll be putting an apple on his head.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/tips-for-surviving-an-apocalypse-2016031506

    (apparently Henry got trounced by a climate scientist this morning but the video isn’t up yet).

    • johnm 3.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:45 am

      Climate Denier Paul Henry shocked at climate change – laughs it off anyway

      By Martyn Bradbury / March 15, 2016

      ‘ Our total denial of the realities we face if we do not make significant changes now is as bewildering as our blind ignorance. We deserve political leaders who will lead, not make excuses. The very existence of us as a species demands it. – ‘

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/03/15/climate-denier-paul-henry-shocked-at-climate-change-laughs-it-off-anyway/

      ‘ The simple, brutal truth is that man made pollution has passed a tipping point where the feedback loops built into the biosphere are now beyond our ability to control. We are facing catastrophic climate change now – which makes the Green Parties and NGOs celebrations at Paris so galling… ‘

      • johnm 3.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 12:07 pm

        Comment on Daily Blog:

        Good stuff, Martyn.

        The crux of the problem is that the Ponzi western-style financial-economic system cannot function without destroying the habitability of the Earth. And politicians and media commentators are more interested in maintaining their own short-term vested interests than the futures of their children/grandchildren. The phony mainstream narrative will be maintained, whatever the cost.

        Until recently the oceans were able to absorb much of the excess heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases. And a lot of trapped heat was used in melting ice. But now the oceans have become so overheated and the quantity of ice so small we are -as you correctly point out- in the early stages of catastrophic (and accelerating) meltdown.

        I think we can expect the bought-and-paid-for liars and money-grubbers who control the political system and the media (Could Paul Henry be one?) to maintain their level of denial of reality until sea water starts flooding the low-lying parts of Auckland, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin etc. Then they will say: “We could never have known this would happen.”

        Meanwhile the CO2 level continues its inexorable rise. Currently 405ppm and expected to reach an average of 408ppm, with outlier results as high as 410ppm, in a couple of months.

        The situation in the Arctic is less clear; more than 2 standard deviations below ‘normal’ ice cover, and entering the melt season with the highest CO2 level in history and the warmest waters in the North Atlantic ever, we should not be surprised if all the ice melts this year. Then the ‘fireworks’ will really begin.

        On the other hand, unlike industrial humans, nature does try hard to preserve life on Earth.

        The degree of direness should be much clearer in a couple of weeks.

    • McFlock 3.2
      15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

      waste of good protein. Put it in his mouth for flavour 😉

    • greywarshark 3.3
      15 March 2016 at 2:20 pm

      An apple for the snitcher eh weka.
      I didn’t know what it meant, but I wanted the opposite to teacher, but i give you a choice provided by Merriam Webster. From this plethora you must find one that just suits your image of the fink Henry.

      Synonyms. (for snitcher)
      betrayer, canary [slang], deep throat, fink, informant, nark [British], rat, rat fink, informer, snitcher, squealer, stoolie, stool pigeon, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale…
      Snitch | Definition of Snitch by Merriam-Webster

      • In Vino 3.3.1
        17 March 2016 at 9:37 pm

        Opposite to teacher… a challenge!

        Dissembler? Spinner? Politician? Marketer (presents persuasion as information and dissuades viewer from perceptive thought…) Hard to find an exact opposite to Teacher. Promoter of ignorance… Talkback host? CEO of TVNZ? Sport Role Model?

        Hmmm – a few teachers probably indulge in some of these crimes from time to time anyway.

  4. Jones 4
    15 March 2016 at 10:57 am

    This isn’t shocking… it is expected. We crossed the Rubicon of meaningful action decades ago.

    • TC 4.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:50 am

      Checkout gwynne dyers ‘climate wars’.

      US govt knows and is planning for the contingency measures mass population migration will require.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:46 pm

        exactly. including the building of militarised detention camps ready to securely house huge numbers of troublemakers.

  5. Bill 5
    15 March 2016 at 11:44 am

    Just dropping in quickly on my way through….

    From Dec 2014.

    …the proposed EU trajectory would emit approximately 2.5 times more carbon dioxide between now and 2050 than the ‘required’ trajectory.

    (where ‘required’ is for a “likely”, ie 66% chance, of avoiding average surface planetary warming of +2 degrees C or more)

    Since 2014, the 10% annual cuts mentioned in the link have been revised upwards to something like 15%.

    Here’s a question. Why is no party in NZ promoting a law that would dictate zero energy emissions being achieved in line with the science? Something along those lines has just been announced in the UK. Sadly, the UK proposal is messy since it includes agriculture which presents leeway for fudging. (ie, playing energy non-reductions off against agricultural reductions)

    • AmaKiwi 5.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:51 am

      “Why is no party in NZ promoting a law that would dictate zero energy emissions being achieved in line with the science?”

      Because it would cut into my business’s profits.

      • weka 5.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 12:12 pm

        No, it’s because no-one would vote for them. FFS people, you think the Greens, who’ve been talking about the seriousness of climate change for far longer than most people here have even known what it was don’t get this shit? Where do you want them, inside parliament or outside?

        When the people want change it will happen. It’s kind of weird seeing the anti-authoritarian folk arguing that our leaders should be leading on this. They’re following us, as always. My question isn’t what are the mainstream parties going to do, but what are we going to do?

        • Sabine 5.1.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 12:23 pm

          nothing, comfort n shit and also it;s hard work, and she’ll be right and why would i do something of he / she / it does nothing.

          • weka 5.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 12:29 pm

            Are you willing to do something?

            • Sabine 5.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 2:53 pm

              i am already and have been for the longest of time, while still functioning in a modern society.
              I was riding a bycicle in Auckland some 20 years ago, to name just one of the little things. Or living within walking distance of work, and always making sure that work and living go hand in hand, instead of insisting in either buying an overpriced property in town, or and overpriced property out of town while still maintaining a fucking truck to carry my groceries home. Buying vegetables and cooking them instead of buying rubbish processed food. Growing my own where possible, guerrilla gardening is a hobby, not using pesticides, not shopping for a new pair, recycle etc etc etc. I am fairly old school. Heck i dont even have a smart or a dumb phone. No tv, and a box for a labtop, cause i don’t believe in upscaling.
              Need to know anything more?

              Just for your information, I was a member of the german green party in 1986. But i have never come across a less interested populace (in general terms) than Kiwis. The next bbq has more importance than polluted riverways.

              Fuck i remember my first visit to Piha in 1998 and ending up picking up rubbish to take home cause people could not be arsed and there was no public rubbish collection point.

              So what are you doing Weka?

              • weka …
                15 March 2016 at 3:28 pm

                Similarish kinds of things Sabine. I think those individual changes are important, and it’s not what I meant. What I meant was, are we willing to take to the streets*? Because all the lifestyle changes we make are still within our reach, not the really hard ones that require us to give up a lot. And they’re not enough.

                *that’s a metaphor, but I don’t rule it out as an action either.

        • Bill 5.1.1.2
          15 March 2016 at 12:46 pm

          The Tory government in the UK have just said they will enshrine reductions in law. From the link in my comment from above…”energy minister Andrea Leadsom told parliament on Monday: “The government believes that we will need to take the step of enshrining the Paris goal for net zero emissions in UK law. The question is not whether but how we do it.”

          It’s no big deal. More a signal of serious intent than anything actually serious (they’ll ensure the law gives them leeway to do jack-shit). But it does send the signal to the electorate and/or to the citizenry that CC is serious and real…ie, not some flaky theoretical nonsense being batted back and forth between governments and the science community. And that translates as ‘permission’ (to think and act on CC) for those, and it would appear to be many, who need such affirmation before they will think or act along certain lines.

          As for the Greens on CC…nah. Their literature is just plain depressing in its level of underplay or avoidance. The last glossy that dropped through my door was all about furry animals dying and chocolate/coffee shortages.

          As for change being hitched to peoples’ desires or wants – fuck that. As a society we need to change and we need to do it immediately and radically. If folks would rather stay in their comfort zone wrapped up in denial, then those who have any capacity to do so have a duty to crash what we can of the framework their comfort hangs from – you don’t wait for the toddler crossing the road to the ice-cream shop to realise there’s a car coming and to then want to stop walking – you yank their hood and pull them flying off their feet if need be.

          • weka 5.1.1.2.1
            15 March 2016 at 1:08 pm

            It’s great that the UK have taken that step, and as you say it’s a nudge rather than the all out law change I thought you were talking about in your original comment. A law change that would dictate zero according to the science (which isn’t what the UK is doing in practice, right?). So if you are talking about the Greens (because let’s face it, it’s not going to be another party) having a policy around the light version of the law, then sure, I think it’s something they could do.

            If you mean a serious law, then my point still stands. When all the people decrying politicians lack of movement on CC start voting for the party that’s actually had climate change as a priority for decades and now considers it the most important issue of all time, then we might see some faster change in NZ.

            As for the Greens on CC…nah. Their literature is just plain depressing in its level of underplay or avoidance. The last glossy that dropped through my door was all about furry animals dying and chocolate/coffee shortages.

            Try going to their website and working with their actual policy. If you think what they put out to the middle classes is a reflection of their policy, you’re really not paying attention.

            “As for change being hitched to peoples’ desires or wants – fuck that.”

            Sure. Good luck with making that work.

            As a society we need to change and we need to do it immediately and radically.

            Patently we don’t or we would be You and I need society to change, pretty bloody drastically, but most of society isn’t there yet.

            If folks would rather stay in their comfort zone wrapped up in denial, then those who have any capacity to do so have a duty to crash what we can of the framework their comfort hangs from – you don’t wait for the toddler crossing the road to the ice-cream shop to realise there’s a car coming and to then want to stop walking – you yank their hood and pull them flying off their feet if need be.

            I’m up for that. I don’t think we can expect the Greens to do that unless we want them back on 5%. But there is nothing stopping the rest of us organising is there? Or perhaps we don’t need to change yet, perhaps we too are still too comfortable and not wiling to give up what is required.

            (and I think the Greens will follow).

            • Bill 5.1.1.2.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 1:48 pm

              I’m no more inclined to wade through the Green web-site than the Labour web site, when what they intend for public consumption – an exposition or reflection of their policies presumably – is plastered all over the glossy leaflets they drop in letter boxes. That, far more than any web site stuff, is what people form opinions and voting intentions from and is the more prominent tool that parties use to shape or influence opinion.

              Anyway.

              We, as a society, do need to change radically and immediately. Just because the mortgage and bills are being paid, and California grapes are dropping off the isles all makes for a sense of comfort and security, doesn’t take away from the reality of the situation any more than it does in the case of the soon to be mashed toddler in the middle of the road anticipating the ice-cream…world seems groovy; world most assuredly ain’t groovy.

              • weka …
                15 March 2016 at 1:52 pm

                aka let’s sit on the internet and pontificate about what other people should do.

                By all means judge the GP on their leaflets, and I’ll judge you as ill-informed on GP policy (which is ironic given you want them to have a policy around legislation that mandates zero).

                Yes everyone, I’m in a pretty bad mood today and it’s not likely to get better.

                • Bill …
                  15 March 2016 at 2:28 pm

                  If their leaflets (ie, their propaganda) isn’t an honest reflection of their policy….

                  Anyway.

                  I don’t really care about the Greens or any other specific political party. My original comment was intended to be a broader and more rhetorical one alluding to an inability on the part of our current institutional frameworks to respond to climate change.

                  • weka …
                    15 March 2016 at 3:10 pm

                    I haven’t read the pamphlet, you haven’t read the policy, so who would know?

                    Ok, I thought you were asking why parties won’t promote such a law change in NZ.

                    Tbh today I’m not interested in yet another rhetorical conversation about society’s failings, because we’ve been talking about that here for years and it doesn’t appear to be moving things forward. Or at least, we need to do something else as well.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      15 March 2016 at 3:48 pm

                      The Left remains fascinated with legislation as a way of enacting change. But how on earth is such a law going to be enforced? How are the courts going to deal with tens of thousands of offending individuals and companies?

                    • weka …
                      15 March 2016 at 5:30 pm

                      Why are you fascinated with using legislation to effect change?

                  • Matthew Whitehead …
                    15 March 2016 at 9:05 pm

                    The leaflets emphasise what people want to hear about. That’s politics 101.

                    The Greens’ policies on this are pretty much exactly what you want, so I’m not sure why you’re so hung up on how they campaign, given that they have an excellent record of pushing their policy priorities, and were principled enough to seriously consider voting against the Labour ETS, (which was stronger than the giveaway money-go-round National turned it into) because it might push away the possibility of a climate change solution that would actually do the job.

        • greywarshark 5.1.1.3
          15 March 2016 at 2:23 pm

          You ask bloody hard questions weka. Go away.

          • greywarshark 5.1.1.3.1
            15 March 2016 at 2:46 pm

            Of course I don’t mean weka go away. Weka keeps reminding us that action and commitment are needed. This is what happens when we are unwary about the ongoing attack on our countryside and environment.
            https://blog.greens.org.nz/2016/03/15/water-were-giving-it-away/
            From Frogblog and Catherine Delahunty.
            When Nick Smith was questioned about the fact that overseas-owned companies can export freshwater they have bottled for free here in NZ, he answered that there is plenty of water, and at the moment there are only a few companies involved.

            Our most precious resource and indeed necessity is being bottled and sold offshore for 100% pure profit. Companies pay only minimal resource consent fees, but no royalties on the resource they are taking. But I guess that’s what the Government means by “no one owns water”; let’s just give it to the corporates.

            The first problem with this is the breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. But what about the proprietorial and kaitiakitanga rights of tangata whenua?
            The second problem is that with advancing climate change and risks from regional drought we will need all our water.
            The third problem is that in some regions food producers are already struggling to get a fair allocation of water without it being sucked up and offshore.
            Then there is the state of our rivers and aquifers, they need cleaning up rather than further exploitation.
            The new export bottling company in Hawkes Bay has had two shiploads of bottled water returned from China because the water was too

            • weka 5.1.1.3.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 3:21 pm

              Thanks grey. I am frustrated by the continual response to CC here being let’s talk about it some more and let’s post some more information that’s scarey. I think we are scared enough. I’d like to see us do other things as well as that, to figure out what we can actually do.

              I see many people in real life, on social media and here on ts who appear to be feeling powerless. We don’t like to talk about that much here, but I think it’s a critical part of the problem.

              • Colonial Viper …
                15 March 2016 at 3:49 pm

                For starters, let’s stop rationalising support for the two big parties, both of which are entrenched in the status quo continuing as long as possible via various games of pretend and extend.

                • greywarshark …
                  15 March 2016 at 10:24 pm

                  Colonial V
                  That is an inadequate and shallow response from you to weka’s heartfelt plea for action as well as ideas to help limit CC and particularly where the pressure points are for individuals to exert some effect. What can you think of yourself? You read a lot = what are people doing overseas?

                  You have started writing posts – I have suggested that Helen Kelly’s post a while back be made a point of meeting of minds and ideas about the environment and CC. It seemed she was very concerned, and would get a lift from us carrying on with her theme. You could be the moderator. The emphasis would be on our climatactic troubles, of which you have always impressed me with your knowledge.

                  Many of us have seen the truth of your assessments about the two major parties, though giving acknowledgement to what Little is currently doing. But the greater concern is climate change, you have said it yourself. So lead the dialogue on that why don’t you. It’s a worthy topic for your abilities.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    15 March 2016 at 10:33 pm

                    Cheers greywarshark. Hope all is going well with you.

                    • RedLogix …
                      15 March 2016 at 10:37 pm

                      Well someone has to CV.

                      Us privileged white males over the age of 40 aren’t allowed 🙂

                    • greywarshark …
                      16 March 2016 at 2:12 pm

                      What are you on about Red Logix? Are you still in Oz? It’s good to see you regularly in the mosh pit. As for white males I have just done a recap on Open Mike of Louis Crimp as an example of the detritus which can be funding parties which are agin everything except for what white males want. Not a decent man that Louis Crimp, now dead however.

      • alwyn 5.1.2
        15 March 2016 at 2:30 pm

        I assume you mean zero CO2 rather than zero “energy”?
        Wouldn’t matter for very long though.
        Zero CO2 emissions? Do you plan to stop breathing?

        I guess if you really mean zero energy I should applaud. They would have to shut down Radio New Zealand and we could have relief from John Campbell’s rubbish.
        After all a radio signal is the emission of electromagnetic radiation.

    • Colonial Viper 5.2
      15 March 2016 at 12:00 pm

      I have a bad feeling about this.

  6. AmaKiwi 6
    15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

    The Nats climate change deniers have done nothing except build more roads and suck up more water for dairying.

    Great political/economic system that allows a fuck whit dictatorship to destroy our country and our earth.

    Excuse me. I have to drive to the mall to buy more plastic crap I don’t need.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:58 am

      While Labour accepts that climate change is a real problem, but drags its feet on moving away from the status quo because it is so invested in the status quo. Free trade corporate rights agreements and all.

  7. adam 7
    15 March 2016 at 1:37 pm

    Get on board with fixing this…

  8. alwyn 8
    15 March 2016 at 2:21 pm

    It’s been a great summer here in Wellington though.
    Haven’t had to pull out the winter woollies or be bothered by chilblains once.
    I live a couple of hundred meters up. Sea level rise isn’t going to hit that is it?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      15 March 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Check where your water comes in from and where your sewage is pumped out by.

      If those pumping stations or the pipe network get flooded, your home will be high and dry yes – but without services.

      • alwyn 8.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:54 pm

        As far as water goes I am much more interested in why the Wellington City Council doesn’t go ahead and provide emergency water storage for the Wellington Hospital if the supply lines get broken in the event of an earthquake.
        The hospital would be left unable to operate as they need a lot of water.
        The council seems far happier wasting the money on a disastrous cycleway that on less sexy, but much more useful things like an emergency reservoir.

        And yes I am quite aware that my original comment is flippant.
        It has been a great summer though.

        • joe90 8.1.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 4:01 pm

          why the Wellington City Council doesn’t go ahead and provide emergency water storage for the Wellington Hospital

          Health funding is a central government function?.
          /

          • alwyn 8.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 4:10 pm

            Yes, but the water supply is a local body one.
            ie The Wellington City Council. Every other DHB hospital has had provision made by their local water supply provider.

            • joe90 8.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 5:00 pm

              AFAIK during the major upgrade of a few years ago Whanganui base had emergency supply cisterns installed.

              • alwyn …
                15 March 2016 at 5:16 pm

                The hospital uses 750,000 litres/day.
                It has 5 days supply in its own reservoir.
                It would take much longer than that to restore full supply from the Hutt where the water is sourced.
                Since 2003 there have been plans for a 35 million litre reservoir nearby.
                http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75872095/dispute-over-wellington-hospitals-emergency-water-leads-to-fingerpointing
                It really pisses me off that the council can find money for stupid things but not for their baseline functions.
                However it is rather off topic for this post.

                • joe90 …
                  15 March 2016 at 5:27 pm

                  Nactional book cooking.

                  But the plan has moved sluggishly since 2011 when the cash-strapped Capital & Coast District Health Board pulled out of a joint agreement with Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council to fund the $20 million reservoir, leaving a funding shortfall.

                  • alwyn …
                    15 March 2016 at 5:34 pm

                    You saw the bits that followed I hope?

                    “Nowhere else in the country has a local authority held such an essential project hostage,” Leggett said.
                    DHB chief executive Debbie Chin said on Monday that no other DHB in the country was expected to pay for water infrastructure, such as a reservoir.”

                    and

                    “But fellow health board member and Wellington regional councillor Sue Kedgley agreed with Leggett and Eagle that it was “completely inappropriate” for taxpayers to be subsidising the reservoir.
                    “Why should [the health board] be expected to pay for this essential service when no other DHB in New Zealand does so,” she said.”

                    One of the two occasions when I totally agree with Sue. However it really is off topic and I’m not going to continue here.

          • greywarshark 8.1.1.1.2
            15 March 2016 at 10:29 pm

            The trouble with some local government councils is that they see a function as being where you get together with others and talk loudly, have a number of alcoholic drinks and nice food, and be entertained.

            • joe90 8.1.1.1.2.1
              15 March 2016 at 11:30 pm

              I reckon the problem is local authorities putting their ratepayers on the hook for almost everything nobody else wants to pay for.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.2
          15 March 2016 at 5:04 pm

          The hospital would be left unable to operate as they need a lot of water.

          But do you really need a functioning hospital after a serious earthquake?

          OK facetiousness aside, I agree with you: we have left some of these key facilities in a far too fragile state. When things go wrong and we really need them is exactly when we are going to rue this bean counter oriented cost cutting approach to life.

        • RedLogix 8.1.1.3
          15 March 2016 at 6:26 pm

          @alwyn

          IIRC this project here to replace the very old Melrose Res will go a long way towards providing an emergency supply for the Hospital.

          http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2015/01/article-about-construction-starting-on-a-new-reservoir-for-melrose

          There was discussion about a large 5 ML reservoir just for the hospital, but it didn’t make a lot of engineering or cost sense on it’s own.

          • alwyn 8.1.1.3.1
            15 March 2016 at 7:15 pm

            That is 2.2 million litres right?
            That is about 3 days for the hospital. The one being planned was 35 million I believe, with the great majority for the hospital. I don’t think we can assume the hospital demand would be less after an earthquake than it is today. No elective surgery, sure. An awful lot of casualties though.

    • reason 8.2
      15 March 2016 at 3:58 pm

      What a typically stupid and selfish comment from you alwyn …..

      If the worlds major citys like New York and London are under water …… If whole countries like the Netherlands and Bangladesh are gone……. If huge areas of fertile low lands are taken by the sea on a global scale ………. and the climate is more extreme and damaging

      Then your ‘fuck you jack I’m alright’ smugness at living a couple of hundred meters above the sea will offer you all the protection that such stupidity warrants …….

      Global warming seems to have lead to the extinction of your thought process …..

      Btw ……Whats your address if I get wet 😉 ?

      • alwyn 8.2.1
        15 March 2016 at 4:01 pm

        Have a look at my reply to CV. My comment wasn’t really serious you know.

        • reason 8.2.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 6:23 pm

          Well slap me on the head with a big pink dildo ………. It seemed so real from you.

          Sorry for the mistake ……………… as long as you understand it’s you not me.

          • alwyn 8.2.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 7:17 pm

            Anything to make you happy. It’s been such a lovely summer I wish only happiness to everyone.

      • Lloyd 8.2.2
        17 March 2016 at 10:41 pm

        Wellington has consistently risen in earthquakes for a long time. In the 1855 earthquake the rise in the city area was about 2m and in the great earthquake around 1460 the island at Miramar was joined to the mainland, forming the Kilbirnie area.
        It will be a race but in a few thousand years Wellington may be the only coastal capital in the world with much the same coastline as it has today.
        Auckland on the other hand will become an archipelago. Maybe a series of bridges to join North Auckland to the rest of the North Island would be a road of national significance.

  9. maui 9
    15 March 2016 at 2:39 pm

    The middle class are more interested in the great summer weather we’ve had rather than changing their lifestyle to lessen the likelihood of more cyclones like the one that hit Fiji.

    At this point its best to pray for economic collapse for some serious emission reduction. That creates a whole new set of problems though.

    • weka 9.1
      15 March 2016 at 3:12 pm

      I’m middle class. Everyone is talking about how there is something wrong with the weather this year.

      I agree that praying for economic collapse is called for.

      • greywarshark 9.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 10:42 pm

        I’m reading Oliver James book on Affluenza. He talks about Erich Fromm’s idea of the Marketing Society – in it

        “the consumer must be permanently dissatisfied, or gratified only for the shortest possible ime. Satisfaction would stop consumption, which would stall economic growth. This society needs people with an exaggerated sense of the importance of work, a false need for things and an endless desire to consume, no deep feelings or convictions, standardised tastes, suggestibility and uncritical minds.

        Nothing but economic collapse is likely to bring about the necessary disruption to that pervasive obssession, similar to the ECT applied to suicidal people to break the pattern of their thoughts.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2
      15 March 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Although Australian coal miners are not liking it, China is buying very little coal at the moment. China’s exports and imports are also way down at the moment.

      Economic stagnation is slowing GHG emissions, for sure.

      But the Left want to get the economy up and revving and people consuming again?

      • alwyn 9.2.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:59 pm

        And subsidise all the Dairy farmers, no matter how ridiculous some of their business models may be.
        I wonder if Little having gone to New Plymouth Boy’s High may have something to do with it? If he had friends off Taranaki dairy farms they may have persuaded him that they are worthy of the taxpayer’s largesse.
        Probably unlikely. Someone who is such a sourpuss as Andrew is unlikely to have friends. Reminds me of Piggy somehow.

        • Colonial Viper 9.2.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 5:05 pm

          Cows are massive GHG emitters and Little wants government money to keep that industry going.

          It’s all over the freakin map without any coherant rhyme or reason.

      • reason 9.2.2
        15 March 2016 at 6:28 pm

        CV I’ve liked and admired your posts here at the standard for a long while now and you have increased my knowledge and understanding of many things.

        But your anger and dislike of Labor is dragging your quality down…….

        You are 100% correct that growth and consumption as presently practiced are incompatible with having a world Humans can survive on ………..

        Our artificial contrived capitalistic system places no value on the natural resources and ecosystems that sustain life ………. keeping air and water clean is seen as an obstacle to creating “wealth” ………… ugly things like greed and exploitation are seen as good.

        But that s a message everyone needs to hear and understand………… tacking lefties on diminishes and distracts from it.

        Labour may well be bad and rotten as often observed …………. but National are just plain evil……… Distill it down to that ….accept it as a simple truth that many others share and don’t vote for either.

        I just feel your holding yourself back from your own good efforts and purpose ……

        I already know that labour are bad and rotten ………….

  10. johnm 10
    15 March 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Just my humble opinion. I find it depressing and sad that almost 100% NZ commentators banalise it down to a local pathetic situation. It really makes me feel this country is brain dead: it’s hopeless, I give up!

    • Arthur 10.1
      15 March 2016 at 5:54 pm

      Well I don’t think that is the case, you are being silly.

      Guinevere was a nutjob for leaving Arthur, for a maggot?

      Whoever wrote this story must have been in two minds.

      Because if it were up to the Lady Herself, She would pick Arthur.

  11. Robert Atack 11
    15 March 2016 at 5:51 pm

    So where does Kiwi Saver and continued growth fit into all of this?
    Is there a political party ready to admit KS is a fuck up at best, or out and out lie if the truth was known?
    I will get out of bed on election day, if just one politician starts telling the truth.

  12. Chooky 12
    15 March 2016 at 10:40 pm

    has anyone noticed there seems to be far less honey bees around ( bumble bees are still working hard) and the bird numbers seem to be right down eg thrushes , blackbirds , sparrows, silvereyes ( magpies are still around and hawks in the usual numbers)

    i suppose global warming will affect bird feed…shades of ‘Silent Spring’ due to global warming?…heat stroke?…or is it due to other causes?…viruses, insecticides

    …and yes mature trees are dying too…water lack? …or heat stoke? …or UV?

    scary

  13. johnm 13
    16 March 2016 at 11:56 am

    I think Weka was interested in seeing this latest Paul Henry interview on Climate Change with a NIWA rep.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/el-nino-keeps-bringing-warm-weather-for-autumn-2016031513#axzz42xWzFxSG

  14. Expat 14
    16 March 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I find it interesting no one ever mentions the fact that NZ, like Australia, are the worst polluters on a per capita or per GDP basis compared to rest of the world, so much for the “clean green” image NZ used to portray.

    IMO, no real action on CC will occur until it is too late, guys like Neil Young were writing about it in the 70’s, “Look at mother nature on the run in the 1970’s” (Helpless), and what has changed?

    Change can only occur with a Govt that whole heartedly subscribes to the concept of CC, and starts to encourage positive change in behavior towards CC, incentivising is a tool that can used in that encouragement, regulation should only be used to persuade non conformers, the old meme that NZ is small country and can’t make any difference to Global warming anyway is just a poor excuse used by those who don’t subscribe and /or sight the economic constraints, but if somethings not done there may no economy to constrain.

    It is really disappointing to hear that the South Is waterways have become so polluted that swimming is not recommended, what has happened at the Govt level to allow this occur and deteriorate, there simply seems to be no accountability.