Science Media Centre

New Zealand became the 63rd country to ratify the Paris Agreement – getting in ahead of the European Union and within the first 55 per cent of countries required to meet the threshold to bring the agreement into force. New Zealand has pledged to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. […]

In its second ‘Climate Cheats’ report, the Morgan Foundation names 12 New Zealand companies that traded in ‘hot air’ carbon credits. The report follows on from Climate Cheats, released in April, which outlined the rise of questionable carbon credits from Russia and Ukraine that New Zealand used to meet climate commitments. The report is available […]

New Zealand’s use of ‘hot air’ credits from Ukraine and Russia means we are cheating on our climate commitments, says a new report from the Morgan Foundation. The report, Climate Cheat, released this morning, outlines the rise of questionable carbon credits provided by the Ukraine and Russia in  2011-12, and New Zealand’s use of these […]

The latest data from the New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme, now in its eighth year of operation, is now out from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). According to the report, NZ ETS 2014 – Facts and figures, nearly all of the emission units handed in by companies in the scheme were purchased from offshore projects — so-called […]

The New Zealand Herald’s Economics Editor Brian Fallow expresses his concern on climate policy in New Zealand. An excerpt (read in full here): Brian Fallow: A year on, climate policy still a disgrace Govt stance cannot be reconciled with its forecasts of emissions growth in latest policy report to the UN A year ago, this […]

In the New Zealand Herald, Economics Editor Brain Fallow takes a look at the government’s struggle with emissions reduction. An excerpt (read in full here): Govt in bind over emissions target Promising technology takes a blow, while primary policy intended to curb growth is in utter disarray. A big decision the Government has to make […]

New Zealand will not commit to a second round of Kyoto Protocol emissions reductions but will instead make pledges under the United Nations Convention Framework on Climate Change, the Government said last week. The move sees New Zealand join several of the world’s largest emitters, including the US, China and India, in negotiating a replacement […]

In the early hours of Saturday morning the UN’s climate change body will release a report that has been described in leaked versions as saying extreme weather events such as downpours and storm surges may make parts of the planet “marginal” for inhabitants. Average global temperatures last year were tied with 2005 for the warmest […]

The Government’s emissions trading legislation – the Clean Energy Future package – was passed the Australian Lower House of Representatives by 74 votes to 72 after weeks of debate. Although the legislation still has to be approved by the senate, the majority held by the current Government and the Green party in the senate suggest […]

The issue of coal mining and production  in the South Island is of growing concern to certain groups. Recent developments have led to the Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons calling for coal processing to become an election issue. Wednesday the 20th of April was marked as a day of protest by the Coal Action Network Aotearoa […]