Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The smart thing to do

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  • Alastair Jamieson,

    I wonder will a carbon tax work both ways - if I start my own carbon sequestration program will I get money from the govt?

    If you have more than 50ha of native scrub on the hill behind your house that you're not ever going to convert to dairying/ pine trees/ firewood or anything else, you might qualify for carbon credits under Landcare Research's EBEX21 (Emissions-Biodiversity Exchange) programme.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    The Listener's editorial is unusually direct and well-informed on the matter

    I just read that as well and my initial reaction was "Good God! a Listener editorial that holds water...mustn't have been written by Joanne Black, then...".

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    [about 14] European countries have announced that they are [withdrawing/defaulting/not going to meet their commitments or something]

    Does anyone have any idea if there is a piece of information he is distorting here?

    I suspect he's conflating the internal EU target with their Kyoto target. The EU-15 have a bubble which requires them collectively to make an 8% reduction. They've divided that up in a way which allows less-developed European nations (e.g. Spain and Greece) to significantly grow their emissions, while requiring others (e.g. UK, Germany, France) to make deeper reductions. Some EU nations are missing their targets - but what matters to Kyoto is that overall, Europe is making it.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Vernon Small in the Independent today (offline): "Key should follow Obama, not Act"...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • JLM,

    I'll read the Listener editorial at the checkout, like those old ads. Their editorial position on climate change was the main reason I didn't renew my sub after 20+ years, and I think I'll wait a bit to see how Black, Ralston, Young, etc go on the topic before i think of renewing again.

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    A few nice turns of phrases here Tom, Deep, et al.

    @James, NZ Rail (whatever they're called now) have stopped the disused line to be set up as a safe cycle path from Christchurch to Prebbleton & to connect to the cycle path to Lincoln.

    As parking tickets are for revenue collection to improve public transport (at least that's the idea) the dear in Welly shouldn't have to pay here tickets as she's at home. Good luck to her.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4772677a11.html

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Listener editorial is here

    Wow. After the David Hansford saga this is incredibly rich of them. I only wish I had two subscription to cancel rather than just the one I cancelled already.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    @James, NZ Rail (whatever they're called now) have stopped the disused line to be set up as a safe cycle path from Christchurch to Prebbleton

    This is very cool. They're also talking about turning part of the old rail line in toward Lawrence into one. The old Catlins line would also be quite cool.

    I once really spent an idealic day on such a trail in Burgundy, stumbling across this amazing chateau (an actually castle-ish one, as opposed to just a big house).

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • JLM,

    Thanks Gareth. Hm, Nick Smith the white-hatted hero, Labour-led coalition the weak-kneed vacillators? Doesn't quite encourage me to renew my subscription yet!

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Smith,

    The new tax on travelling to NZ from the UK will not be the first time that Politicians seize the opportunity to tax us using man-made climate change as the excuse. But have they ever needed an excuse? Mind you, a majority of us are pretty easy pickings when it comes to accepting taxes based on the climate change debacle.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Tim Watkin's comment under a good post by David Lewis on this topic over at Pundit:

    It's interesting to note the various stands National has taken on these issues. John Key told a National party regional conference in Whangarei last year:

    We won't lurch from one climate policy to the next like Labour has – we'll be predictable and consistent.

    In that same speech Key said "We will introduce a comprehensive 'cap and trade' emission permit system to manage greenhouse gas emissions. This system will encourage cost-effective emission reduction across the economy". Now he wants a select committee to re-think and even reconsider a carbon tax.

    But his deputy Bill English said in 2003 that he would repeal any carbon or fart tax and Peter Dunne, his Revenue minister stupidly said such a tax would be "stupid".

    Excuse me a second, I'm just waiting for the lurching to stop...

    Ouch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Yeah, well I think the National Party are off the honeymoon now.
    Anyone hear Bill English on Morning Report regarding stimulus in the economy not being enough?

    I think he's realised it's going to be VERY tough for the Govt. of the day to keep things form going down the economic toilet.
    The reality also being it's the government of the day that is going to be in the spotlight and a lot of people seemingly voted for some kind of bright future/change saviours in the Nats....

    And the whole ACT thing - Key's probably aware of how much 'old smelly shit mashed into the shagpile ' the ACT problem is.... and kicking himself.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Some EU nations are missing their targets - but what matters to Kyoto is that overall, Europe is making it.

    They are "making it" by exporting productive industry to places outside of Europe. Thus increasing the carbon footprint of Europe and hastening climate change. Kyoto is crap.

    Kyoto is rightfully doomed, it cannot be implemented in anything like its current form in China or India. Kyoto is greenwash for western carbon junkies, let's find a better way forward that is fair to all the world's people.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    They are "making it" by exporting productive industry to places outside of Europe.

    Links please to the studies saying that?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Rodney Hide has a BSc and two Masters degrees, so is not - presumably - an unusually stupid man.

    But the idea of him sitting in judgement of the science of climate change is preposterous, especially since his mind is apparently made up. In this cringe-inducing pre-election speech he parroted the most primitive of denialist talking points (like, 1/ no net warming since 1998; 2/ it was warmer in the medieval warm period; and 3/ Greenland was green once) while also declaring: "A warmer climate with more CO2 in the atmosphere is an unambiguous benefit to New Zealand and to the world."

    In so doing, he revealed himself to be a complete and utter ass.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    I LOVED that speech, especially this bit:
    New Zealanders who can afford it go to the Gold Coast for their holidays, not Invercargill. We would like it to be warmer.

    Of course at the time I thought the whole thing was a beautifully weighted satire... I'm still waiting for him to drop the poker face though

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • jeremy gray,

    Well crap, so much for NZ as a leader in environmental matters.

    At least Kraftwerk were good last night.

    point chev • Since Apr 2008 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    ARRRGH! I forgot all about Kraftwerk!!!!

    I was forced to entertain a blond Formula One promo girl at Mezze instead :(

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Oh and I see first of the baubles of office are falling to the national Party's faithful lapdogs at the Herald, with Paula Oliver getting a fat comms job in John Key's office for a job well done.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Oh and I see first of the baubles of office are falling to the national Party's faithful lapdogs at the Herald, with Paula Oliver getting a fat comms job in John Key's office for a job well done.

    I'm sure there's an interesting study in that: compare the tone of reporting from those hired by national to those who aren't, and see if sycophancy really is rewarded.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Would have been good if they'd come down to Welly. Problem is, TSB Arena isn't quite big enough. Hopefully Depression 2.0 won't discourage the proposed mega-arena.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • HenryB,

    I can't quit make it out but was Paula Oliver responsible forthe two part hagiography of John Key that appeared earlier in the year in the Herald?

    Palmerston North • Since Sep 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    It will be very interesting to watch ACT try to hardball National. If Key is half as decisive and tough as they make out, then ACT will shoot themselves in the foot. But perhaps he isn't. Perhaps he's a bit of a sook?

    Or is it a longer game he plays? The more he can blame cockups on ACT, the more the public will look directly to him for leadership. At the moment he risks alienating people who may have sympathies to ACT amongst National's base, if he refuses ACT anything. I very much doubt ACT can actually force any leverage out of the government - bringing the coalition down will not benefit ACT in the slightest.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    At looks as if Key would do anything to be on that plane to Lima, so Rodney could demand whatever he wanted.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

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