Global News 2006 Sep-Dec

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Thursday, November 23 2006
Solar water heating in New Zealand gets boost

At the initiative of the Green Party, as part of its "confidence and supply" agreement with the ruling Labour/Progressive coalition, the Government is investing $15.5 million to increase the use of solar water heating in New Zealand.

Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Jeanette Fitzsimons says that, with climate change accelerating and energy prices rising, it makes sense to use the sun to heat our water.

The programme will run for five and a half years from now, with $15.5 million allocated for the first three and a half years. Funding levels for the final two years will be decided after a review in 2009.

“Our initial goal is to double the numbers of solar water heating systems being installed,” says Ms Fitzsimons.

This will see approximately approximately 15,000 to 20,000 systems installed by 2010. Assuming this electricity would have otherwise been supplied by coal and gas power stations, the estimated CO2 savings are equivalent to getting 5000 to 7000 cars off the road.

- New Zealand Government

Tuesday, October 3 2006

 * Climate Clinic: Drought could double by end of century, Met Office Hadley Centre research shows / Climate change

Tuesday, August 1 2006

 * Developing Countries take the lead in taking care of the planet - 500 groups to take part in a worldwide environmental clean-up this September

Tuesday, July 25 2006

 * Soya traders agree moratorium on Amazon deforestation following customer pressure. Greenpeace

Monday, July 24 2006

 * Trade talks deadlock brings new hope. FoE press release

Wednesday. July 19 2006

 * Water resource rental opposed


 * Lobby group Irrigation New Zealand says it will fight against any moves that could see farmers having to pay for water on a "resource rental" or volume-used basis.


 * In April, agriculture minister Jim Anderton kicked forward the Government's Sustainable Water Programme of Action to develop a strategic approach to managing New Zealand's freshwater resources.


 * Canterbury-based INZ chief executive Terry Heiler said any calls to have water allocated on a charge by volume basis would be strongly opposed. “That's got major implications, that's not done anywhere else that I know of in the world ... “


 * http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3735958a13,00.html

Wednesday, July 12 2006

 * New Happy Planet Index, some surprising results

Tuesday. July 11 2006

 * World Heritage Committee adopts strategy on heritage and climate change. The World Heritage Committee on Monday adopted the recommendations on ways to respond to the threat of climate change to many World Heritage sites such as Mount Everest (Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal), Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Venice (Italy).

Most natural ecosystems and heritage sites, both on land and in the sea, are at risk of being affected by climate change. They include: glaciers, coral reefs, mangroves, boreal and tropical forests, polar and alpine ecosystems, wetlands and grasslands. Examples of some sites so affected include the Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (U.S.A. and Canada), Huascarán National Park (Peru), Mount Kilimanjaro (United Republic of Tanzania), Ilulissat Icefjord (Denmark), the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize), Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (U.S.A. and Canada).

Cultural sites are also in danger because of climate change. Rising sea levels are threatening coastal sites, such as the four World Heritage sites of London. Desertification is threatening some sites, such as the three Great Mosques of Timbuktu (Mali). UNESCO pres release

Thursday, June 22 2006

 * EU greenhouse gas emissions increase for second year in a row

Thursday, June 8 2006

 * International Make Roads Safe campaign launched

Tuesday, June 6 2006

 * Conservation Park provides water worth millions in real savings: A park in New Zealand's South Island, a 22,000-ha tussock area known as Te Papanui Conservation Park on the Lammermoor Range, acts as a natural water catchment, supplying water valued at $31m for hydroelectricity, $93m for Dunedin's water supply (120,000 people), and $12m for irrigation of 600 square kilometres of Taieri farmland. Conservation Minister Chris Carter today announced results of the study, probably the country's first study to analyse the value of natural services derived from the environment in its natural state. He said it "is a reminder that our natural environment is critical to intelligent economic growth". See story in "Southland Times".

Monday, May 15 2006

 * Christian Aid offers vision of a different future - a revolution in development thinking could see poor regions using renewable energy to power a new, and clean, era of prosperity.

A new report from UK agency Christian Aid, 'The climate of poverty: facts, fears and hope', says a switch by sub-Saharan Africa away from development based on fossil fuels to one using energy sources like solar, wind and water, for instance, would not only be better for the environment but could also result in increased jobs, better health and enhanced opportunities for learning.

For less money than it would take to pay the region’s oil bill for the next decade, every household in Africa could change to clean, renewable energy, the report calculates. Developing technology could even transform the world’s most impoverished continent into a net exporter of clean energy. Christian AId press release, Climate change a 'deadly threat', BBC News / Global connections
 * EU Emissions Trading Scheme data shows Governments must set tougher targets, Friends of the Earth. FoE press release / Climate change

1 May 2006
Climate-friendly car buyers should get assistance

New Zealand's Business Council for Sustainable Development wants the Government to include cash incentives in this year’s Budget for people who buy fuel-efficient, low-emission cars.

Chief Peter Neilson says a new survey shows six out of ten New Zealanders would support the incentives and suggests high fuel prices have increased support for the idea.

- NewstalkZB

Thursday, April 20 2006

 * Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage enters into force. Intangible_culture, Unesco press release / Sport, Arts & Culture

Tuesday, April 4 2006

 * Mediterranean's alternative pathway based on the principles of sustainable development could dramatically boost the quality of life over the coming decades. 'Blue Plan Report' published. UNEP press releease

Friday, March 31 2006

 * Launch of green.tv, world’s first environmental broadband TV channel. UNEP press release / New technology focus

March 13th 2006

 * Water supply crisis narrowly averted in Westport, New Zealand: reservoir had less than one day's supply. Much needed rains cooperated recently with efforts by local volunteers and firemen in Westport, NZ. The town had come within one day of being without its normal water supply by the beginning of March. These efforts, coupled with stringent water use regulations, pulled the town back from the brink of drought.

February 8 2006

 * British Columbian Government pledges to fully protect two million hectares of Great Bear Rainforest, Greenpeace UK / Biodiversity
 * Friends of the Earth Europe calls for a "root and branch" reform of the world trade system after WTO rules against EU in GM trade dispute, FoE press release / Food, News Europe

February 7 2006

 * Drought crisis in the Horn of Africa, UNICEF press release / Global connections, Saving water

February 1 2006

 * Wind Energy in Europe - EC White Paper targets for 2010 surpassed

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