The COVID-19 pandemic has had short-term positive effects on the environment, but the production, consumption and disposal of additional single-use plastics will have had a greater impact on the environment and climate, the European Environment Agency reports Since the pandemic, air quality has improved in many countries due in part to fewer cars on the roads. Continue →

If you are ready to join the many businesses reducing their emissions, the key to getting started is to establish a carbon baseline – an inventory of sources of carbon emissions from business activities Upon surveying the landscape of organizational climate commitments, it is not uncommon to hear about attention grabbing goals like committing to 100% renewable energy, setting a science-based target, going carbon neutral or even climate positive. Continue →

The Government has announced its intention to repeal the Resource Management Act 1991(RMA) and replace it with three new pieces of legislation The Minister for the Environment, David Parker, has today signalled the next big steps in reform of New Zealand’s environmental management legislation. Continue →

Tree planting is becoming an important part of climate change mitigation strategies, however the wrong trees in the wrong places can do more harm than good Urgent solutions to global climate change are needed. Continue →

The independent Climate Change Commission has released its draft package of advice to Government on the steps Aotearoa must take to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change Commission Chair Dr Rod Carr says the advice is ambitious but realistic and makes a clear case for taking immediate and decisive action on climate change. Continue →

Earth’s ability to absorb carbon emissions through plants will likely cross a major tipping point within just two decades at the current rate of warming, according to a new study from the University of Waikato and US researchers Earth’s ability to absorb carbon emissions through plants could be halved within the next two decades at the current rate of warming, according to a new study from the University of Waikato and Northern Arizona University, USA. Continue →

To address global warming, innovation in both cement production and carbon utilization are absolutely essential, says Solidia Technologies Chief Executive, Tom Schuler A new technology that enables concrete to become a carbon sink is currently being tested for infrastructure applications. Continue →

Climate change is already happening in New Zealand and could have a profound impact on future generations of New Zealanders, a new report from the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ says Our atmosphere and climate 2020, released Thursday 15th October, includes analysis of temperature data from 30 sites around New Zealand that shows our climate is warming. Continue →

At least one billion people worldwide would be needed to take part in a global clean-up to reduce plastic waste, according to an international group of researchers including The University of Western Australia Scientists studying plastic pollution in waterways around the world are concerned after measuring the scale of human response needed to reduce future emissions. Continue →

Chief Operating Officer of Green Distillation Technologies (GTD), Trevor Bayley, says that end-of-life tyres are grossly undervalued. Continue →

Improved recycling might reduce plastic waste, but it won’t be the solution to carbon emissions that we need, say experts Recycling of commodity packaging plastics will have marginal impact on the carbon emissions from the plastics industry, according to BNEF analysis. Continue →

A report has been published this month by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton, which criticises the way estuaries are managed and highlights inconsistencies in how regulations are enforced The report argues that estuaries should be protected to the same level as other freshwater bodies, and that they should be included in freshwater management systems. Continue →

$100m in government funding for climate change protections and infrastructure comes at a welcome time where shovel-ready projects are needed to help New Zealand bounce back against Covid-19 and create sustainable jobs for Kiwis, FIRST Union says “Our members in the quarrying sector are very pleased to hear that funding has been granted to 29 projects across six regions, with the aim of protecting important areas from climate change-related threats like erosion and flooding,” says FIRST Union Organiser Justin Wallace. Continue →

Fast-tracking resource consents for critical infrastructure and development projects is a pragmatic and welcome government response to assisting the Covid 19 recovery process says Resource Reform NZ, a coalition of business and environmental interests The Minister for the Environment David Parker has today announced fast-track amendments to the Resource Management Act to better enable economic recovery from Covid-19. Continue →

CO2 emissions could easily drop by 5% or more this year alone as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but will emissions bounce back quickly, or will they remain depressed by a sluggish economy for a few years? Continue →

The engineering and metals industries’ top innovators recognised at the HERA Future Forum Nation event The Innovation Award was won by Dr Chris Bumby and his team at Victoria University of Wellington for their zero-carbon iron production discovery. Continue →

China has announced a wide range of measures to put an end to the environmental blight that has tainted much of its land and rivers, but just how effective will it be? Continue →

Increasing numbers of tourists are eroding the very attributes that make New Zealand such an attractive country to visit, warns Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) Simon Upton The Commissioner has released a report on the environmental consequences of projected tourism growth in New Zealand. Continue →