Independent Climate Commission Gives New Zealand Opportunity to be Number One Again

The new Labour - NZ First - Green Party Coalition Government's proposal to call an Independent Commission on Climate Change provides the country with an unmissable opportunity to make New Zealand Number One again in innovation, with a 21st Century approach to climate change management and economic and social development.

 

You can't get away from the science. Climate change is happening, and it's happening faster than we first thought.  The Australians have a very scary climate model  - scary because it's so accurate.  Twelve years ago at an Australian Transport Conference, they showed their model with Arctic and Antarctica ice melt, and sea level rise predictions based on various warming scenarios.  Twiddle the scenario and you get certain predictions.  Based on the climate science back then, you weren't supposed to be able to sail through an ice-free Arctic or see very major parts of Antarctica break off until about 2040.

 

But these things are happening now - 25 years ahead of that prediction.  The interesting thing then was that if you twiddled the model inputs to match the global warming data we have now, then the Aussie's model pulled back 20 years to put Arctic and Antarctica ice melt, and accelerating sea level rise into the 2015-2025 time frame we are seeing now.  Not bad for a bunch of cricket players. 

 

The work that our own scientists are doing, especially in Antarctica, is invaluable in refining these predictions through the NZ Sea Level Rise Programme.  Hopefully the new political atmosphere will encourage all the parties involved to work together on a National Climate Change Response Strategy that gives the people of New Zealand sound, practical advice on how to plan for the changes that will happen over the next 50-100 year timeframe.  A stitch in time saves nine.

 

It will also provide us with the opportunity to fix our fundamentally flawed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).  Everybody needs to be "in", because this issue is quite literally everybody's problem for those of us who recognise that we live on Planet Earth, and we have to go by her rules.  If we are smart enough to design an "all in" ETS with the right policy levers, international linkages, massive tree planting programme (which doesn't have to be on prime agricultural land - there are plenty of "badlands" needing planting), and effective carbon trading rules, it will drive us into Carbon Negative territory.  Then we will have a Great Story to tell. 

 

And by the way, Carbon Zero isn't quite enough.  That concept is something of an academic "will-o-the-wisp".  You could argue forever over which scientific technique (aka magic wand) should be used to define "Carbon Zero".  There will always be an assumption, a flaw, an error limit, or an uncertainty that will cast serious doubt on the postulated "Carbon Zero" position. 

 

Don't pay our scientists to argue about that red herring in front of courts and tribunals.  The reality is that there's already so much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere we need to figure out ways to suck the damn stuff up.  That's where the electric cars and massive tree planting programme come in. Pay the scientists to figure out more ways to get rid of the stuff - or at least issue them all with a spade and a box of trees to plant.  Every week.

 

Then, we will have a Great Story to tell the world: Responsible Carbon Management, Carbon Negative Export Products, a World-Leading ETS, and a good and great heritage for our children and grand-children.  Carbon Negative New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

New Zealand Needs To Grab Every Carbon Credit It Can

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recent report on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions highlights the need for agriculture to make meaningful progress in reducing its emissions.  In New Zealand this is particularly important because agriculture is responsible for 48% of our emissions. 

The Commissioner’s report follows disturbing analysis from the Ministry for the Environment, where a senior official this week advised that meeting New Zealand’s Paris Climate Agreement pledge could cost the country more than $70 billion, and see carbon prices rise to $300 a tonne if we are not part of international carbon markets.

New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme is greatly weakened because it is not linked to international carbon markets, and because it covers only half of our emissions.  Hopefully the current Government review of the ETS will address these issues, especially since the Paris Agreement comes into force on 4 November, and the next UN meeting on international climate change action is set down for Marrakech in two weeks’ time.

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The Commissioner recommends planting trees to offset emissions.  This is an easy and relatively cheap strategy to pursue, with multiple benefits for agriculture - including riparian and erosion protection, water quality improvement, stumpage, and issue of NZU carbon credits for qualifying blocks.  Managed well, tree planting creates more income for farmers.

New Zealand needs to encourage farmers and other land owners to plant more trees, and grab every carbon credit we can.  We need to pursue a vigorous national planting programme and aim to become the world’s first Carbon Negative Country.  This way we will reduce the risk of being in serious carbon debt in future, and create an ETS that is an asset, not a liability for the nation.

GreenXperts Limited and Green Tick Certification Limited are working to maximise the benefits of carbon trading for New Zealanders, by launching this week a $10 million Certified Carbon Credit Fund.  We have already had local interest, and inquiries from Europe and India.  We look forward to being part of the next phase in positive climate change action – helping New Zealanders to grab every carbon credit they can. 

Environment Court Appeal Won For New Taurikura General Store, Whangarei Heads, New Zealand

Proprietors of the Taurikura General Store, Neil Engebretsen and Yu Min Song, are pleased to announce that following a successful Environment Court appeal, resource consent has been granted for a store and cafe at their new site at 2302 Whangarei Heads Road, Taurikura, Whangarei Heads.  

 

The new Taurikura Store and Cafe will be both a General Grocery Store and a licensed Cafe, with much improved access, parking, and store facilities in the front of the new building, and a comfortable cafe and outdoor deck in the rear.  

 

The new store will be located about 80 metres west (towards Whangarei) of the T-intersection with Taurikura Street and Whangarei Heads Road.  

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Ten carparks, including one disabled carpark, and disabled access and toilet will be available at the new store.  All the store facilities you are used to, such as the Post Shop, general goods, frozen goods, fishing gear, bread, milk, daily papers, and Internet access will be available at the new site.  Extensive landscaping, planting, and acoustic protection for neighbours will be installed at the new site.  

 

Postal services are available, and site planting  is underway.  Neil and Yu Min have really appreciated the community's support for this cool new beach store development in Taurikura.  

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Thanks also to the project team, architect Claire Furlong from ARTO Architects, Richardson Stevens Limited engineers, Dean Scanlen, traffic engineer from Engineering Outcomes Ltd, Peter Ibbotson, acoustic engineer from Marshall Day Acoustics, and Susan Harris planner and environmental scientist from GreenXperts Limited for all their work on this successful resource consent project.

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Taurikura General Store and Licensed Cafe

2302 Whangarei Heads Road, Taurikura, Whangarei Heads, New Zealand

 

Telephone: +64 9 434 0145  

 

Store hours: 7am-9pm.

GreenXperts and Green Tick Launch $NZD10 million Certified Carbon Credit Fund

GreenXperts Limited, in association with sister company Green Tick Certification Limited, has launched a $NZD10 million Certified Carbon Credit Fund.

Expressions of Interest are  sought from New Zealand Unit (NZU) holders who have NZU that will qualify for certification as genuinely carbon negative NZU.

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Engineering processes, projects or forest stands with a certifiable carbon negative profile are welcome to respond to the Expression of Interest. 

GreenXperts may assist NZU holders to achieve certification through sister company Green Tick Certification Limited.

The objective is to provide the New Zealand carbon market with the highest quality, lowest risk certified carbon credit portfolio. This benefits buyers, because they receive an impeccable credit, and benefits sellers, because they achieve a premium value for their credits.

​The partners aim is to see the top 10% of the New Zealand carbon market certified, and to offer these high quality, low risk credits to the domestic market, and in time to the international market, at premium rates.

Following the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement, international carbon markets will reform, and our aim is to position our clients to take full advantage of the global carbon market in this next phase of international action on climate change.

Download 'Expressions of Interest NZU 2016' Flyer on our web site here.   

Disappearing Pipi - Presentation to Whangarei Heads Citizens' Association 19.03.15

Over 30 people attended Susan Harris' presentation to the Whangarei Heads Citizens' Association's AGM on Thursday 19 March 2015.  Interest was keen, with many questions from the floor.

Click on link below to download a copy of the presentation.

Disappearing Pipi Presentation

The Mysterious Case of Disappearing Pipi at Mair Bank, and Potential Impacts on Marsden Point’s Stability

First published in the Whangarei Heads Newsletter, Feb-March 2015

 

Source: Pawley 2014

Massive reduction in pipi numbers since 2005

The latest scientific reports from the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) show a massive 99.3% drop in both pipi biomass (by tonne) and abundance (by numbers), and two successive ‘recruitment failures’ (juveniles not achieving breeding age) on Mair Bank over the past ten years.  Only 63 individual pipi of any size were found in 140 sample sites during the February 2014 survey.  These grim findings led MPI to impose a total ban on pipi harvesting from October 2014 onward.

Potential impacts upon Marsden Point’s stability

It has been acknowledged by authorities for over 30 years that the layers of old pipi shells and live pipis on Mair Bank armour and stabilise the Whangarei Harbour entrance and Marsden Point.  In 1983 it was estimated that the pipi banks were equivalent to at least $4 billion (2014 value) in harbour works.  Should the pipi banks be compromised, then there could be impacts upon the stability of Marsden Point and its associated facilities.

Possible causes of pipi disappearance

Possible causes of pipi disappearance could include: climate change (changes in currents and water acidity); Mair Bank movement (reducing habitable area); contaminants in the water and/or sediment (causing pipi to depart Mair Bank and perish in deeper colder waters, and/or recruitment failure); and selective removal of the breeding population (the larger pipi) by pipi pickers.  There is probably a combination of causes, but at present there is insufficient evidence to determine what has happened.  The latest scientific reports comment that the available information has not been collected in a consistent or comprehensive manner, making it difficult for scientists to pin down causes, assess risks, or propose remedies.

What the authorities are doing

NRC is the coastal marine area authority, and MPI the fisheries authority.  Several reports have been commissioned and discussed with stakeholders by both NRC and MPI.  Currently there seems to be a hiatus in activity following the sobering results of the 2014 survey and the institution of the total ban. 

Questions that need answering

A number of important questions need answering.  What has happened since 2005 to cause the pipi to die?  Can pipi die-out be remedied?  Will the disappearance of the pipi endanger the stability of Marsden Point, and if so, when, under what conditions, and what can be done about it?  Will the total ban on pipi picking rebuild the pipi population, or is more action needed?  What effects will Northport’s proposed deepening of the harbour channel have upon the integrity of Mair Bank and Marsden Bank?

The Whangarei Harbour and Marsden Point are valuable national assets worth billions of dollars.  The disappearance of the pipi that stabilise the harbour entrance is a national issue that affects us all, and one that must be addressed competently.  Current information is patchy, incomplete and inconclusive.  A properly scoped and adequately funded Mair Bank Sustainable Management and Recovery Plan needs to be commissioned immediately by MPI as lead authority, supported by all the stakeholders involved.  It will be interesting to see what the next steps will be by the authorities responsible for the sustainable management of the Whangarei Harbour and its priceless pipi.

Susan Harris BSc(Hons)

Principal Scientist

GreenXperts Limited

Mobile: +64 22 1544 958

Email: susan.harris@greenxperts.co.nz

www.greenxperts.co.nz

Pollution at Wellington Dive platform off the scale - Project Blue could have warned the public within hours

Pollution at Wellington dive platform off the scale

Project Blue technology can warn people within hours of these types of public health risks - and quickly trace the source of contamination. There is no need these days, with Project Blue technology, to expose the public to this type of danger.