Several regional councils in New Zealand have also declared a "Climate Emergency" over the last year (e.g. https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/113747732/c...). I appreciate the sentiment, but fear that this amounts to little more than posturing when what we need is action.
Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
11–20 of 88 posts
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#12> Ardern went on to say she absolutely believed climate change was the "biggest challenge of our time" and the "nuclear moment" for this generation. I find it ironic the prime minister is using “nuclear” as a pejorative when it was the left’s irrational opposition to nuclear power that resulted in much of the world's electricity being produced by fossil fuels. If we had embraced nuclear power 2 decades ago, we would…
[deleted]
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#13This is great. Now larger countries like USA and India and China should wait for a decade or so to see how this translated to the smaller countries over a decade.
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#14Unfortunately it looks like just another bureaucracy with opportunity to appoint friends and supporters, but no real teeth or legal authority: "-no remedy or relief is available for failure to meet the 2050 target or an emissions budget, and the 2050 target and emissions budgets are not enforceable in a court of law, except that if the 2050 target or an emissions budget is not met, a court may make a declaration to t…
The great thing about a 31 year old target with no teeth means everyone can feel good today and no one responsible will be around if it fails.
+1. It's hard to imagine any level of success without at least specifying milestones over those 31 years.
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#15> Ardern went on to say she absolutely believed climate change was the "biggest challenge of our time" and the "nuclear moment" for this generation. I find it ironic the prime minister is using “nuclear” as a pejorative when it was the left’s irrational opposition to nuclear power that resulted in much of the world's electricity being produced by fossil fuels. If we had embraced nuclear power 2 decades ago, we would…
Do you have sources regarding the "left's irrational opposition to nuclear power"?
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#16Unfortunately it looks like just another bureaucracy with opportunity to appoint friends and supporters, but no real teeth or legal authority: "-no remedy or relief is available for failure to meet the 2050 target or an emissions budget, and the 2050 target and emissions budgets are not enforceable in a court of law, except that if the 2050 target or an emissions budget is not met, a court may make a declaration to t…
It’s all about moving the dial on public sentiment which is a prerequisite for actual legislation with teeth. The last (Australian) Prime Minister to actually implement real legislation with real effects was promptly burned at the stake by the usual suspects in the media and energy lobby (thanks Rupert).
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#17> Ardern went on to say she absolutely believed climate change was the "biggest challenge of our time" and the "nuclear moment" for this generation. I find it ironic the prime minister is using “nuclear” as a pejorative when it was the left’s irrational opposition to nuclear power that resulted in much of the world's electricity being produced by fossil fuels. If we had embraced nuclear power 2 decades ago, we would…
I agree with your frustration about the green movement's knee-jerk rejection of nuclear power, but in NZ anti-nuclear policy was a very galvanising touchpoint for the environmental and anti-war movements, so there's a bit more context there. Nuclear-free and the Springbok protests are referenced constantly as progressive wins.
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#18> Ardern went on to say she absolutely believed climate change was the "biggest challenge of our time" and the "nuclear moment" for this generation. I find it ironic the prime minister is using “nuclear” as a pejorative when it was the left’s irrational opposition to nuclear power that resulted in much of the world's electricity being produced by fossil fuels. If we had embraced nuclear power 2 decades ago, we would…
Do you have sources regarding the "left's irrational opposition to nuclear power"?
The left in New Zealand literally banned all forms of nuclear energy, going as far as prohibiting essentially all US Navy vessels from entering its waters just in case they had fissile material on board.
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#19> Ardern went on to say she absolutely believed climate change was the "biggest challenge of our time" and the "nuclear moment" for this generation. I find it ironic the prime minister is using “nuclear” as a pejorative when it was the left’s irrational opposition to nuclear power that resulted in much of the world's electricity being produced by fossil fuels. If we had embraced nuclear power 2 decades ago, we would…
Any evidence you could link me to not that there existed "irrational opposition to nuclear" from people with left politics but that this opposition had any significant affect on the viability of nuclear power?
Re: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
#20Several regional councils in New Zealand have also declared a "Climate Emergency" over the last year (e.g. https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/113747732/c... ). I appreciate the sentiment, but fear that this amounts to little more than posturing when what we need is action.
As I’ve said elsewhere, public sentiment has to be so strongly in side that it can withstand a media onslaught from the energy lobby and friends. Without the public strongly on side, any real actions will be short lived. Australian PM Gillard was the proof of that pudding.