6 December 2012

NZ shamed in international climate change report

New Zealand is ranked 41 out of a possible 61 for its performance on climate change and under National our position will plummet, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said today.

The annual Climate Change Performance Index report, released this week at the international climate talks being held in Doha, evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of the countries that are together responsible for more than 90 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions.

“Prime Minister John Key yesterday said ‘New Zealand can hold its head up high when it comes to climate change’ yet his actions are undermining our reputation and a new report shows we are not doing well,” Dr Norman said.

“The report ranks New Zealand as poor on its climate change performance; very poor for its emissions level; and very poor for climate policy.

“Those results are likely to be even worse next year given the National Government has gutted the Emissions Trading Scheme as a tool for reducing emissions, and has decided not to sign up for binding reductions under the Kyoto Protocol.

“The National Government’s position at international climate change talks in Doha is embarrassing. The National Government won’t sign up for binding emissions but it is asking to still be able to benefit from access to international carbon markets under the Kyoto Protocol.

“There is nothing for the National Government to hold its head high over domestically or internationally,” Dr Norman said.

For more information:
Climate Change Performance Index report - http://germanwatch.org/en/home

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage