What’s gone on in climate-change talks with China? Watts is coy while Brown buries his news about raising road revenue
Point of Order is disappointed that Climate Change Minister Simon Watts didn’t tell us much more about his chat with China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu.
Watts said the Chinese minister is departing New Zealand today ”after the Fifth Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue between New Zealand and China…”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the New Zealand – China Climate Change Cooperation Arrangement, where the two sides engage on issues such as green finance and the Emissions Trading Scheme.
So what is discussed, exactly, on these occasions.
Watt’s said only that:
“China is an important climate partner for New Zealand, and vital to global efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. Cooperating on climate change has been an important element in the relationship, underpinned by our long-standing ties.”
And:
“Much innovation has occurred over the last 10 years since the cooperation arrangement was signed. Through our dialogues, I have had the opportunity to showcase many New Zealand businesses who are innovating and taking action to deliver sustainable solutions,” Mr Watts says.
“New Zealand is committed to strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest with China, including around carbon markets and nature based solutions to climate change. It’s important we continue discussions on areas where we can cooperate and learn from one another as we transition our economies to a low emission, electrified future.”
But he had been sitting down to talk with the ministerial representative of a country that happens to be the world’s largest polluter.
His frustratingly sparse statement appeared on the government’s official website today along with news that motorists should brace to pay more for their motoring.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown teasingly kicked off his media release by saying a Revenue Action Plan has been designed “to enable a clear infrastructure pipeline that delivers the critical transport infrastructure our country needs sooner, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
Further down this statement, we learn the Revenue Action Plan will:
So what is discussed, exactly, on these occasions.
Watt’s said only that:
“China is an important climate partner for New Zealand, and vital to global efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. Cooperating on climate change has been an important element in the relationship, underpinned by our long-standing ties.”
And:
“Much innovation has occurred over the last 10 years since the cooperation arrangement was signed. Through our dialogues, I have had the opportunity to showcase many New Zealand businesses who are innovating and taking action to deliver sustainable solutions,” Mr Watts says.
“New Zealand is committed to strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest with China, including around carbon markets and nature based solutions to climate change. It’s important we continue discussions on areas where we can cooperate and learn from one another as we transition our economies to a low emission, electrified future.”
But he had been sitting down to talk with the ministerial representative of a country that happens to be the world’s largest polluter.
His frustratingly sparse statement appeared on the government’s official website today along with news that motorists should brace to pay more for their motoring.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown teasingly kicked off his media release by saying a Revenue Action Plan has been designed “to enable a clear infrastructure pipeline that delivers the critical transport infrastructure our country needs sooner, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
Further down this statement, we learn the Revenue Action Plan will:
- Make better use of existing funding tools for the National Land Transport Fund;
- Reform tolling legislation to support bringing forward infrastructure investment.
- Unlock new funding tools, including value capture.
- Transition all light vehicles to road user charges by as early as 2027.
“ … the Government’s Revenue Action Plan will result in a greater focus on user-pays.
“When users pay for a service, they aren’t just participants – they become customers, and customers naturally expect and demand the highest level of service.
“As part of the National-ACT coalition agreement, we are transitioning the light vehicle fleet to road user charges (RUC), and away from fuel tax, by as early as 2027. Transitioning to RUC will ensure that all road users are contributing fairly to the upkeep of our roads, regardless of the vehicle they drive.”
Oh – and NZTA will soon begin consultation on new tolling proposals for the Takitimu North Link RoNS, the Manawatū Gorge, and the Ōtaki to north of Levin RoNS.
Much better news was that new Health Research Council guidelines aim to have research funding spent on projects that gel with Government priorities and will improve our health.
The council last year allocated just over $111 million in Government funding for research.
“Every health dollar is precious, so we want research to deliver outcomes that will make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders,” Reti said.
Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager James Ross welcomed this, saying:
“Health research isn’t a game. Lives depend on medical advancements, and every cent spent on frivalous pet projects is money that can’t go towards improving outcomes for Kiwis.
“How would you rather see $650k spent, researching cancer or ‘breathing ancestors into life’? With dozens more examples of pointless projects this year alone, Minister Reti has delivered a huge victory for everyday Kiwis.”
The Health Research Council was just one of many research organisations which had spent far too much taxpayer cash on woke nonsense, Ross said – so why stop there?
“While the Government’s on a roll, let’s get the Marsden Grants back on track as well.”
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29 August 2024
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The Government has announced a Revenue Action Plan to enable a clear infrastructure pipeline that delivers the critical transport infrastructure our country needs sooner, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu is departing New Zealand today after the Fifth Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue between New Zealand and China.
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28 August 2024
A new report on New Zealand’s mineral endowment identifies prospects for development, enabling a strategic and considered approach to growing the country’s resources sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
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The nature of the China-New Zealand meeting on climate-change issues can’t be gauged from the minister’s media release.
But perhaps China – the world’s second-largest economy and the second most populous country – can teach him and a thing or two about how to generate power with coal and natural gas or how to build nuclear power plants.
According to Carbon Brief:
China is home to half of the world’s coal power plants and has the world’s largest capacity of renewables and hydroelectricity, as well as the second-largest for nuclear.
It is also the world’s fifth-largest oil-producer and the second-largest for oil consumption, as well as the single largest contributor to global growth in demand for gas.
And:
In 2006, China overtook the US to become the world’s largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases and its citizens now have carbon footprints well above the global average
Despite being the biggest emitter today, however, China’s 11% share of cumulative emissions since the industrial revolution is much smaller than that of the US (20%), which has a population of one quarter the size of China.
China also ranks lower than many other major economies when it comes to per-capita emissions. In 2019, its per-capita emissions were slightly higher than the global average, but similar to Germany’s, about half those of the US and one-third those of Australia’s.
And what information will the Chinese minister take home about New Zealand’s climate change policies?
We don’t know what Watts told him.
But he would have learned something by scanning our media headlines in the past month:
Newsroom
Climate Commission issues a yellow card on emissions progress
Almost all of the Government’s climate policy faces moderate or significant delivery risks, the Climate Change Commission has found in its first monitoring…
Dentons Kensington Swan
Slow and steady is not winning the race: Climate Change Commission releases its first report on the National Adaptation Plan
Adaptation is an integral component of our approach to addressing climate change, and according to He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission, we are not…
NZ Herald
Climate chief rubbishes claims farmers need to wait for tech
By Eloise Gibson of RNZ The country’s chief independent climate adviser says it is not true to say farmers need to wait for new technology before they can.
Reuters
New Zealand scraps clean, green policies to boost economy
New Zealand’s green credentials are at risk as the government rolls back environmental reforms in a bid to boost a flailing economy and fulfil promises made…
Newsroom
Even Thatcher realised the need for govt action on climate
The Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan takes ‘small government’ to an unprecedented new level – neglecting its duty to protect our wellbeing and livelihoods.
Newsroom
Climate minister takes hands-off approach to carbon market
Analysis: Concerns the Government could artificially deflate the price of carbon have eased after Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced new price…
RNZ
New Zealand isn’t adapting to climate change fast enough – commission
The Climate Change Commission has delivered its first national adaptation plan progress assessment; The report looks at the effectiveness and implementation…
Newsroom
Air NZ’s bold climate ambitions undone by stark reality
Air New Zealand dropped its 2030 carbon intensity reduction target, and said it would withdraw from the Science-Based Targets Initiative. Its 2050, net-zero…
Newsroom
Govt to automatically consent natural gas import facility
Updated: The Government’s four actions to tackle high energy prices include legislating a consent for an LNG import terminal.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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