Not quitting
October 28th, 2012 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarThe SST headline and lead para:
New Zealand may quit Kyoto
New Zealand has been tipped to quit the Kyoto Protocol, designed to cut global emissions.
Nonsense. NZ is, as I understand it, fully committed to its Kyoto obligations.
The issue is that those obligations are for the five year period 2008 – 2012, which ends in 10 weeks time. But to suggest that NZ is quitting, is just inaccurate.
Government officials next month travel to Doha in Qatar for the latest round of negotiations on the treaty, but with less than four weeks before the summit, acting Climate Change Minister Simon Bridges says the Government has “not made a decision” on its commitment.
“My understanding is that decisions have yet to be made on that matter,” he said.
But the actions of participants in the carbon market, and market signs, suggest the Government is preparing to walk away.
There is nothing to walk away from! There is not international agreement on post 2012 targets.
There is growing speculation the Government’s silence is because it could save face internationally by waiting for big players like China and the US to refuse to sign up to the second Kyoto round, before following suit.
Of course, as it would be economic and environmental madness to have an agreement without them (or India).
But not unilaterally agreeing to a future binding commitment, is vastly different to walking away from a current commitment. If reporters can not understand this, then here’s an analogy.
If I lend you $1,000 and you agree to pay me back $200 a year, and then after five years you have paid me back, are you walking away from your commitment if you don’t keep giving me money in the future?
But OM Financial carbon broker Nigel Brunnel thinks New Zealand will sign up to new commitments in Doha, but then delay ratifying them. That could buy time to pursue aligning with a group of Asia-Pacific partners, and adopting voluntary emissions targets outside of Kyoto.
That fits into two of the Government’s climate-change themes, New Zealand doing its share, and not damaging competitiveness by enforcing heavy carbon payments on businesses when trading partners like the US and China do not.
Because of that, about 85 per cent of world carbon emissions are not covered by international reduction agreements, and it is said in government circles that China’s emissions increase daily by New Zealand’s entire annual carbon output.
It is simple. Any agreement which doesn’t include binding targets by China is worthless in an environmental sense.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
So, why is National not scrapping the ETS tax?
Vote:If not, why not?
October 28th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Still defending the indefensible rort perpetrated upon our almost bankrupt nation I see.
Vote:Guess some just never learn
October 28th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
I’m glad this sham is ending.
When will National end the ETS sham? Can’t bring myself to vote for gweenists, even if they do wear blue.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
UN scam on the back of scare mongering.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Despite all the pleading from the warmists, AGW has not registered on the US election platform. That tells us alot.
Vote:No one has an alternative or follow up for Kyoto on the table, so nothing will happen before the end of the year. Any legal obligations NZ has will be gone.
October 28th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
What a load of tits. Who gives a shit about NZ’s carbon emissions given we’re a third world country that needs to catch up on the economic front before worrying about a Peter Pan environmental ideal.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Monique, The Green communists. Helps raise funds for their lifestyle.
The sooner it goes the better. Grosser and his clingons will have to stay home and the Govt. booze bill will go down.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
What Monique said.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Climate Change hysteria (and various other “the world is ending” movements) are what people get into when they do not have real problems to worry about.
And right now, we do have real problems to worry about. Take the US: they just spent 4 debates talking about domestic and foreign policy. Not one word about climate change. First time that’s happened in 20 years apparently.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
National needs to can the ETS NOW.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Read people’s lips – they can’t or our “trading partners” will use it as a stick to beat us with. Food miles etc. it’s like a bribe to be able to do business.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Bribes to be able to do business is ” Corruption “..
As one of the least corrupt countries.. We should be giving a lead with this Global Warming nonsense..
Walk away … Tell Al Bore he is not welcome..
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
And what about all the forest owners who will no longer be able to have their snouts in the ets trough. They will have to get “compensation” with a bit extra for iwi forest owners cos they are underpriveledged.
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
At least no one is in total denial of climate change. Good to see for once most are attacking the true problem with ets on the right. Giving away our economy on a green dream that will not make a difference. as opposed to blindly trashing the scientists
Vote:October 28th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
The problem with the scheme is that the taxes target the producer, no the consumer.
Vote:Consumption taxes that make more ‘eco friendly’ products cheaper would be more effective.
And don’t get me started on providing money markets the power to extort producers through carbon credit trading.
October 29th, 2012 at 12:41 am
excellent post Farrar, but get real and don’t be a sucker on board the ship
Vote:Kyoto is absolutely refused, soon Farrar NZ First is 10% , goodbye to all your Nat shit,
we will sort out your weakling Nat Govt so soon
October 29th, 2012 at 1:26 am
Griff says: “At least no one is in total denial of climate change”.
What does that mean?
I’ve never heard of anyone who denies that climate is always changing over time. Can’t mean that.
No one is denying that humans totally cause climate change? Nope. Nobody thinks that.
No one denies that humans have some effect on climate changes? Maybe that’s it. But there’s no surprise there, coz there’s a consensus (97%!) amongst sceptics that human activities must have SOME effect.
Perhaps Griff means that no one is totally denying that humans cause at least 51% of all changes? If he thinks that, he’s dead wrong.
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 2:37 am
Farrar is becoming more rational. His sociopath acolytes like Cameron Slater,and Barnsley Bill and ClInt Heide as absurd as Eastwood are dying for lack of breathing spaces. Goodbye.
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 4:58 am
Poor Griff – delusional in the extreme.
Who is the real denier here Griff?
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 6:27 am
It can rest assured DPF will continue his staunch defense of the National Party line: the ETS tax is good for NZ.
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 7:37 am
@ Australis
Vote:Are you one of the deluded twats that niwa is suing for cost?
You seemed to have inside information last time I saw you post so I would say That the $112,000 is being asked for out of your pocket. Good job!!
Have you caught up with the change in view on climate change since the drought in the usa
after this week it will rise even higher
Your comment is meaning less it just shows numbers without context or source. Are you trying to say that the “skeptics”are good at making shit up?
October 29th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Oh come on Griff you’re still relying on unusual weather to push your cause ( I thought you was all into science !!).
Do some research and look up USA weather events in 1938, 1944,1950,1954 to just list a few.
BTW. For those involved on the Eastern USA ,I hope the current event reduces its intensity or changes course.
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Didn’t Canada leave the Protocol last December?
Vote:October 29th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Ross I did not say the drought or the coming storm are anything to do with global warming. Weather does have an effect on the view of the yank on the ground
Vote: