The best carbon capture device is a tree

Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, July 10th, 2024 - 18 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, national, same old national, science, Shane Jones, simeon brown, spin, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

In policy announcement after policy announcement the Government is showing its complete disdain for doing something about climate change. Who can forget how they:

  • Are winding back speed restrictions especially around schools. Unfortunately the faster you go the more carbon dioxide you produce and the more kids you potentially kill but these are clearly of secondary concern to them.
  • Canned Auckland Light Rail and Let’s get Wellington moving.
  • Had Shane Jones claim that the previous Government’s approach to climate change was hysterical, that mining of the DoC estate including Stewardship land would be fast tracked and that “if there is a mining opportunity and it’s impeded by a blind frog, goodbye, Freddy“.
  • Made gas guzzling utes and large vehicles cheaper thereby undermining the previous Government’s attempt to make the country’s vehicle fleet more sustainable. The number of EVs entering the fleet has subsequently plummeted.
  • Released a Government Policy Statement on Land Transport that did not have climate change as a priority consideration and which had little provision for walking and cycling.
  • Stopped work on policies that would provide transport alternatives to private cars.
  • Started work on resuming block offers for offshore oil drilling at a time where any serious climate scientist says we have to leave undiscovered oil in the ground.
  • Abandoned Labour’s IRex project that would have had brand new rail enabled ferries operating between the North Island and the South Island. Total cost so far is $484 million. Stand by as a cheaper option that does not include rail is agreed to.
  • Took agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme while at the same time claiming that the Government was committed to meeting the country’s climate change obligations. How has not been explained.
  • Appointed an “independent” panel to review the science around methane and current targets. Clearly in their view the science is not settled and the current targets need to be revised, no doubt down.
  • Announced eleven roads of National Significance in the latest Government Policy Statement on land transport. Simeon clearly loves the smell of fresh tarseal in the morning.

You may ask how they are going to achieve the country’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. In the GPS Simeon Brown says that the Emmissions Trading Scheme is the Government’s key tool to reduce emissions.

But here is the weird thing. The Salt Carbon Fund which is listed on the NZX was selling credit units for $1.85 at the time of the last election but the latest price is$1.37 representing a 26% reduction.

You would expect the brightest minds of capitalism would expect the price of these units to go up as the country’s chances of meeting our targets decline. Any shortfall will need to be funded by the purchase of credits. But for some strange reason the cost of carbon is going down. Either the market moguls are very bullish about the country’s ability to decarbonise or they are betting that the ETS is going to be undermined. If the latter happens the Government is going to have to write some big cheques because the ETS will have failed.

So what is the Government going to do to reduce emissions?

How about magical thinking that Carbon Capture and Storage will solve our problems.

From the Beehive website:

A Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) framework has been released by the Coalition Government for consultation, providing an opportunity for industry to reduce net CO2 emissions from gas use and production, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Our Government is committed to reducing red tape and removing barriers to drive investment into the energy sector. As part of our plan to double renewable electricity, and transition to a low emission economy, we are enabling innovative technology that reduces net CO2 emissions,” Mr Brown says.

Implementation of CCUS is estimated to reduce New Zealand’s net CO2 emissions by 4.65 megatonnes over the next two Emission Reduction Plan periods (2026-30 and 2031-35).

“CCUS is an important way to reduce net CO2 emissions from hard-to-abate industries that are keeping the lights on and powering our economy, such as natural gas production.  Capturing CO2 emissions enables these critical industries to provide a least cost transition to a low emissions economy that strengthens our energy security and reduces net emissions and will align our policies with many other jurisdictions who recognise CCUS as part of their net zero framework.

There are three comments to make about this announcement.

Firstly the last Government’s deal with NZ Steel anticipated saving 8 megatonnes during the same period which is *more* than the total anticipated to be saved by using CCUS. But National has taken the chance to criticise that deal. I wonder why.

Secondly CCUS has been hyped up as a panacea to the world’s climate change woes but has never worked at scale. About CCUS the Climate Change Commission has said that it expected “incremental changes that are in line with changes over previous years but do not anticipate anything notable”.

And thirdly the best carbon capture device is a tree. Trees improve air quality and amenity, provide stability and supports flora and fauna, give us shade and wood. I live in a regenerating subtropical forest and every day I celebrate the contribution that trees make.

And they sequester carbon. Native forests are especially good at doing this.

But National has historically removed tree protection rules and made their felling much easier. And the Fast Track Approvals Bill if enacted could see mining and clear felling of forests in pristine areas.

The Government clearly has no proper plan to address our climate change commitments. They are kicking the can down the road in the hope that a magical scientific solution will emerge.

The problem with this approach is that it is a bet the future of our grandchildren type of approach. And it justifies doing nothing now when the need for immediate action is so clear.

18 comments on “The best carbon capture device is a tree ”

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  1. lprent 1
    10 July 2024 at 1:57 pm

    Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is just fantasy bullshit.

    There are no projects that are theoretically and/or economically feasible. Certainly there are none that have a storage capability for the required periods in geologically unstable NZ.

    Mostly what it shows is the complete lack of education in science and engineering from these morons in the current government. They obviously believe in magic.

    Simpleton Brown is a particularly egregious example. He is also illiterate on the basic methods of project costing. Project least cost requires a discount cash flow analysis, and in the case of NZ that would mean factoring in forward costs of the ETS levies. The simpleton way of looking at it is to only view the upfront costs, not the costs over the whole of the project.

  2. lprent 2
    10 July 2024 at 2:03 pm

    And thirdly the best carbon capture device is a tree.

    Actually no. The best short term carbon capture device is a swamp with anaerobic conditions below the surface. Something like a peat blog is ideal.

    Of course that is also the best dairy land after drainage as well. Mostly because the farmers in draining it are essentially mining the semi-fossilised carbon for fertility and extended methane and carbon dioxide emissions.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      10 July 2024 at 3:02 pm

      Our sadly, fast disappearing Wetlands.

      New Zealand’s peat wetlands are more powerful than tropical forests at absorbing carbon.

      “Only about 10 percent of our historic wetlands remain, and the few wetlands left are dwindling every day to make room for pasture or urban development.”

      “If we save every remaining wetland, and double what we’ve got, there could be great gains for our wellbeing and for our climate goals.”

      “Peat wetlands in particular are super carbon sinks. They hold twice as much carbon as all of the world’s forests combined, yet cover only about 3% of earth’s land surface.”

      https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/restoring-peat-wetlands-our-climate-change-secret-weapon

      This Govt aint gonna change that. Why our recent anti fast-track Climate march was so great and so well supported.

  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3
    10 July 2024 at 3:15 pm

    The Nats and their Climate Strategy. Simon Watts reckons they apparently have 5 Pillars ? IMO none of them Wisdom !

    "The strategy is built on five core pillars and underscores the government's commitment to delivering on our climate change goals," Watts said.

    Well..to state the obvious..their climate change goals might not be in our Planet, or its inhabitants best interests : (

    Each of the five pillars was accompanied by three aspirational bullet points (e.g. "The costs of reducing emissions are minimised") arising from the core goal set out in each pillar, but gave no explanation as to how all this would be achieved.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521741/watch-climate-change-minister-simon-watts-gives-strategy-announcement

    No explanation needed…..We already know how they roll….

    • Dennis Frank 3.1
      10 July 2024 at 5:30 pm

      five core pillars

      Using the US govt's pentagon as model, I presume. The basic idea is to get masterminds to huddle within, so they can all share the occult effect. Dunno if it will work for the Nats, though. May need someone to get a magic wand from somewhere.

      Reminds me that Lawrence of Arabia famously told his story of fighting with the Arabs in his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Naturally I was keen to see what they were and was rather bemused when I reached the end of the book without encountering a single mention of them, let alone a description of each. Perhaps his publisher thought he needed a glam title to sell the thing. Perhaps the Nats have learnt from that, and are publicising their pillars on the basis that they can't be described?

      Nah, can't see them being that sophisticated. Perhaps a journo will get a Nat insider to leak them on the basis that there's no such thing as bad publicity…

  4. PsyclingLeft.Always 4
    10 July 2024 at 3:29 pm

    Energy Minister Simeon Brown and the fantastic CCUS ….

    New draft framework to reduce emissions open for consultation

    Gas production levels in New Zealand are at a 40-year low following the previous government's decision to ban new offshore oil and gas exploration, said Brown

    Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie applauded the move, calling the CCUS a "vital piece of the puzzle to meet our net-zero emissions goals for the gas sector and other applications".

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521703/new-draft-framework-to-reduce-emissions-open-for-consultation

    John…Carnegie. Now where have I heard that name?

    John Carnegie is the first New Zealander to sit on the World Energy Council board after his appointment last month.

    Oh really…

    John is a former head of the New Zealand Energy Council and is now chairing the World Energy Council's finance committee.

    In his day job, he is the chief executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa – previously known as the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association or PEPANZ – the oil and gas sector lobbyists.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018925990/john-carnegie-on-the-energy-transition-and-his-new-role

    We see….

  5. Powerman 5
    10 July 2024 at 3:40 pm

    Ah well wasn't Shane Jones keen on planting pines in a past government? And look at how that ended up. The present Government's main policy is to reverse any gains made by the previous one.

  6. Powerman 6
    10 July 2024 at 6:08 pm

    Today the Five Pillocks of Wisdom were announced, Let's see who they are; Luxon, Simione, Seymour, Bishop, Jones oh there are more than five no surprise there.

  7. adam 7
    10 July 2024 at 8:25 pm

    Umm can we drug test these MP's please.

    This is magical thinking on the governments part – so it's either purely ideological, or they are on drugs.

    Lets get the test done, so we can rule that out.

  8. Maurice 8
    11 July 2024 at 6:35 am

    The best natural "carbon capture" device is LEAVES. Most of it happens in grass leaves rather than trees in New Zealand. Fully forested areas of native trees are in relative stasis with older dying trees rotting and releasing CO2/Methane at a similar rate as the uptake in smaller younger trees. Most exotic forests are logged and the only "carbon capture" is in the lumber which is put into semi-permanent buildings – it is eventually BURNT or disposed of in land fills. ALL "carbon capture" by trees is short term (20 – 100 years).

    Wetland and regenerative grass to soil "carbon capture" is more permanent but even there a longer term return to the cycle occurs. Indeed "fossil fuel" is one of the longest term "carbon capture"/recycle to the atmosphere mechanisms. We are just in the carbon release phase at this point in history (and plants are very happy with the increase in their food! The World is “greening” at the fastest pace seen in recent times – the last 10,000 years).

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 8.1
      11 July 2024 at 8:13 am

      plants are very happy with the increase in their food!

      Ah yea..the climate denier revealed.

      denier : CO2 isnt a problem..plants love it !

      Just have to ignore the ever increasing temperature rise, Earth's storms rising violence, the burning and the flooding.

      CO2…

      The vast majority of carbon dioxide emissions by humans come from the burning of fossil fuels.

      If current emission rates continue then temperature rises will surpass 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) sometime between 2040 and 2070, which is the level the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says is "dangerous"

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas

      Is there a part of "dangerous" you deniers dont get?

      • Maurice 8.1.1
        11 July 2024 at 11:35 am

        OOOH! "dangerous" … to whom or what?

        At 7,000 ppm CO2 mega flora and fauna flourished so life will continue even at those levels of CO2 (and commensurate heat/wet/wind).

        Wouldn't it be terrible if the biggest blight and over run species population on Earth "extincted" itself by its own efforts?

        OTHER Life would continue to fill the still existent niches in the subsequently altered climate. The pests would be much reduced or GONE.

        The huge cycles of flourishings and extinctions of the past show us that no one species is guaranteed continued existence …. Oh – and it would make the Malthusians happy in their last flicker of existence.

        Always think of the big picture ….

        //s

        • lprent 8.1.1.1
          11 July 2024 at 12:22 pm

          At 7,000 ppm CO2 mega flora and fauna flourished so life will continue even at those levels of CO2 (and commensurate heat/wet/wind).

          Be nice if you would simply be accurate, link, and not a simply completely pig-ignorant and stupid fuckwit. Or even reply to what was actually written.

          The comment that you answered didn't even reference animals or animal sizes. It referenced weather and climate.

          Just have to ignore the ever increasing temperature rise, Earth's storms rising violence, the burning and the flooding.

          Megafauna only show up in the geological record when oxygen levels are high usually when much higher than our current 20.95%. Even the thickest farmer must be aware that animals don't use carbon dioxide, they excrete it. Plants use CO2 and excrete O2. Which is why the current CO2 level is 0.04%. There are a lot more plants than animals.

          The last time that atmospheric CO2 was likely at those kinds of levels (0.7% == 7000ppm) was at least 400 million+ years ago when it was about a max of about 6000ppm.

          BTW: There were much higher levels of CO2 more than a about 1.4 billion years ago – but that was when multi-cellular organisms were only starting to survive and before they really started differentiate their cells.

          But when the CO2 was at 6000ppm 400 million years ago, plants had just gotten established on land. The only land animals (maybe) were the small insects that first colonised land. So your scientifically illiterate fantasy of megafauna running around on land with 7000ppm atmospheric CO2 is early by at least 150 million years

          For your edification, try this simple timeline. Unlike you, the New Scientist has a clear appreciation about what is known and what is not.

          Of course this may not be crucial. Most moronic climate deniers like you appear to regard facts as being like the creation myths of peasants telling mythical stories to each other around firesides. Certainly I feel like I am reading religious texts based on faith and ignorance from thousands of years ago when ever I read the writing of you and your fellow climate denier morons.

          Like your little bit of complete stupidity…

          Always think of the big picture ….

          Clearly you have problems thinking about basic details. Bigger pictures are well beyond your capabilities.

          • Maurice 8.1.1.1.1
            11 July 2024 at 12:52 pm

            You missed the //s DOUBLE sarcasm … and clearly missed that far from denying I was quite aware of "climate change" …

            • lprent 8.1.1.1.1.1
              11 July 2024 at 2:08 pm

              Nope, I was replying in exactly the same vein of 'sarcasm' as you were using.

              Really… You didn't pick up on that? Do I have to run it up a flag pole?

              I just did the sarcasm with facts that were actually reasonably correct rather than inventions that ignored what we know. Hell of a lot more effective than doing sarcasm with the hyperbole of the illiterate.

              • Maurice …
                11 July 2024 at 10:10 pm

                But the World was created only 6,000 years ago and the Lizard People want it to be 2 or 3 degrees warmer and for their meat bots to become vegan so that they can begin harvesting the most succulent …..

                All is not as it seems!

  9. Bruce 9
    11 July 2024 at 8:51 pm

    As usual hemp can provide a solution,capturing carbon, while providing material to give respite to the old wood trees that are increasing danger of decimation.

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