Robert McLachlan
@robertmclachlan.bsky.social
New Zealand mathematician, writing on climate & the environment at http://planetaryecology.org
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
BREAKING
It's been revealed that fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken New Zealand's oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban.
It's been revealed that fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken New Zealand's oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban.
How the oil and gas industry helped rewrite New Zealand’s drilling rules
A paper trail shows just how far ministers went to accommodate the industry's wishlist, including giving it access to draft laws.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
BREAKING
It's been revealed that fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken New Zealand's oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban.
It's been revealed that fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken New Zealand's oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban.
After making some progress between 2019 and 2023, New Zealand's transport emissions are creeping up again. Transport is a big chunk (about half) of our fossil fuel emissions and of course it should be going down, not up.
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
After making some progress between 2019 and 2023, New Zealand's transport emissions are creeping up again. Transport is a big chunk (about half) of our fossil fuel emissions and of course it should be going down, not up.
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
Behold the awesome 2021 Cook Islands $3 banknote
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Behold the awesome 2021 Cook Islands $3 banknote
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
The Clean Car Standard requires importers to improve the average emissions of the imported fleet over time, or pay a penalty. Turns out there was a third option: do nothing and lobby the government to delete the penalty. Well spotted @robertmclachlan.bsky.social
The NZ car industry has made no progress towards meeting the 2025 emissions standards. Are they even trying?
November 17, 2025 at 6:01 AM
The Clean Car Standard requires importers to improve the average emissions of the imported fleet over time, or pay a penalty. Turns out there was a third option: do nothing and lobby the government to delete the penalty. Well spotted @robertmclachlan.bsky.social
"Government to raise cost and damage of driving".
First they weakened the fuel efficiency standards, now they're gutting the penalties for not meeting them. Basically a voluntary standard now. Penalty rates Aus: A$100/gCO2; EU: E95/gCO2; NZ: NZ$15/gCO2.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
First they weakened the fuel efficiency standards, now they're gutting the penalties for not meeting them. Basically a voluntary standard now. Penalty rates Aus: A$100/gCO2; EU: E95/gCO2; NZ: NZ$15/gCO2.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
November 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
"Government to raise cost and damage of driving".
First they weakened the fuel efficiency standards, now they're gutting the penalties for not meeting them. Basically a voluntary standard now. Penalty rates Aus: A$100/gCO2; EU: E95/gCO2; NZ: NZ$15/gCO2.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
First they weakened the fuel efficiency standards, now they're gutting the penalties for not meeting them. Basically a voluntary standard now. Penalty rates Aus: A$100/gCO2; EU: E95/gCO2; NZ: NZ$15/gCO2.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Iceland's international aviation emissions, first outgoing leg:
In 2009: 1.0 tCO2/person
In 2019: 3.7 t/person (cf world average 0.07t)
crazy
In 2009: 1.0 tCO2/person
In 2019: 3.7 t/person (cf world average 0.07t)
crazy
November 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Iceland's international aviation emissions, first outgoing leg:
In 2009: 1.0 tCO2/person
In 2019: 3.7 t/person (cf world average 0.07t)
crazy
In 2009: 1.0 tCO2/person
In 2019: 3.7 t/person (cf world average 0.07t)
crazy
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
As New Zealand Minister Hon. Simon Watts heads to #COP30, here's some remarkable new information from an Official Information Act response I received today. 1/-
November 13, 2025 at 7:35 AM
As New Zealand Minister Hon. Simon Watts heads to #COP30, here's some remarkable new information from an Official Information Act response I received today. 1/-
This sounds like a case study in how to destroy community support for renewable energy. "Pahīatua Windfarm Ltd has not responded to the Manawatū Standard’s several requests for comment, nor has it updated its website or series of community newsletters since March." www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
November 8, 2025 at 7:17 AM
This sounds like a case study in how to destroy community support for renewable energy. "Pahīatua Windfarm Ltd has not responded to the Manawatū Standard’s several requests for comment, nor has it updated its website or series of community newsletters since March." www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
I enjoyed this 9-minute film, "No One is an Island" based on the project "Living Well Within Limits" led by Julia Steinberger. Great animation and I liked how at the end, the "elephants in the room" were working happily in the park.
myhero.com/no-one-is-an...
myhero.com/no-one-is-an...
No One is an Island
Through an animated conversation, scientists explore if everyone can live well without harming the environment and reveal how hope and creativity can inspire change.
myhero.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I enjoyed this 9-minute film, "No One is an Island" based on the project "Living Well Within Limits" led by Julia Steinberger. Great animation and I liked how at the end, the "elephants in the room" were working happily in the park.
myhero.com/no-one-is-an...
myhero.com/no-one-is-an...
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
Here's the other problem: as @climateactiontracker.org point out in the report Gates' staffers either didn't read or chose to ignore - the shifting projections from 'bad' to 'less bad' STOPPED SHIFTING after covid and MIGHT BE SHIFTING BACK TOWARDS MORE BAD
climateactiontracker.org/documents/12...
climateactiontracker.org/documents/12...
October 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Here's the other problem: as @climateactiontracker.org point out in the report Gates' staffers either didn't read or chose to ignore - the shifting projections from 'bad' to 'less bad' STOPPED SHIFTING after covid and MIGHT BE SHIFTING BACK TOWARDS MORE BAD
climateactiontracker.org/documents/12...
climateactiontracker.org/documents/12...
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
“very clearly, it has been shown that the National Party are happy to sign up to these things when they’re in opposition for the sake of looking as though they’re constructive, and when it comes to holding the reins of power, their word isn’t worth anything,”
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/g...
Gutting of Zero Carbon Act crashes bipartisan climate consensus
It took more than a year of painstaking cross-partisan negotiation to land the Zero Carbon Act. Now, the Govt is gutting it unilaterally, Marc Daalder reports
newsroom.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
“very clearly, it has been shown that the National Party are happy to sign up to these things when they’re in opposition for the sake of looking as though they’re constructive, and when it comes to holding the reins of power, their word isn’t worth anything,”
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/g...
An excellent piece by @christinahood.bsky.social at Carbon News on New Zealand's 2035 NDC: Does it meet our Paris Agreement obligations? Per Betteridge's Law of Headlines, the answer is NO.
www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35982/d...
www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35982/d...
Carbon News
Carbon News NZ Climate Policy Carbon Markets
www.carbonnews.co.nz
November 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
An excellent piece by @christinahood.bsky.social at Carbon News on New Zealand's 2035 NDC: Does it meet our Paris Agreement obligations? Per Betteridge's Law of Headlines, the answer is NO.
www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35982/d...
www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35982/d...
The NZ car industry has made no progress towards meeting the 2025 emissions standards. Are they even trying?
November 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The NZ car industry has made no progress towards meeting the 2025 emissions standards. Are they even trying?
Bloomberg reporting on NZ's weakening climate ambition
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
New Zealand Emissions Unit Prices Tumble on Climate Law Changes
New Zealand carbon unit prices tumbled after the government announced changes to climate laws that could erode confidence in the nation’s Emissions Trading Scheme.
www.bloomberg.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Bloomberg reporting on NZ's weakening climate ambition
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Wow, the NZ carbon market hates the Government's proposed changes to the ETS and Zero Carbon Act. Carbon price which had already dropped to $51.50 yesterday now down to $41 in intra-day trading. Just keep repeating "The ETS is our key tool to control emissions".
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Wow, the NZ carbon market hates the Government's proposed changes to the ETS and Zero Carbon Act. Carbon price which had already dropped to $51.50 yesterday now down to $41 in intra-day trading. Just keep repeating "The ETS is our key tool to control emissions".
3 November 2025 saw two new NZ electricity records set: highest daily utility solar power generation (1.6 GWh, enough to make 50 million cups of tea), and the last day of an unprecedented 25-day run of zero coal power.
There will be a lot more records like this to come.
There will be a lot more records like this to come.
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 AM
3 November 2025 saw two new NZ electricity records set: highest daily utility solar power generation (1.6 GWh, enough to make 50 million cups of tea), and the last day of an unprecedented 25-day run of zero coal power.
There will be a lot more records like this to come.
There will be a lot more records like this to come.
NZ electricity reached 99.9% renewable on 25 October, I believe that is a record. And that's despite a tenth of geothermal capacity appearing to be out of action (maintenance?) since the start of October. Source: em6
October 31, 2025 at 3:46 AM
NZ electricity reached 99.9% renewable on 25 October, I believe that is a record. And that's despite a tenth of geothermal capacity appearing to be out of action (maintenance?) since the start of October. Source: em6
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
October 29, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Shane Jones vs Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on
Environmental Defenders. "Unicorn kissing green drivel from doomers and malcontents" vs "Do not depict environmental defenders as criminals or extremists or as posing a threat to public order, security, national interest and economic prosperity."
Environmental Defenders. "Unicorn kissing green drivel from doomers and malcontents" vs "Do not depict environmental defenders as criminals or extremists or as posing a threat to public order, security, national interest and economic prosperity."
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Shane Jones vs Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on
Environmental Defenders. "Unicorn kissing green drivel from doomers and malcontents" vs "Do not depict environmental defenders as criminals or extremists or as posing a threat to public order, security, national interest and economic prosperity."
Environmental Defenders. "Unicorn kissing green drivel from doomers and malcontents" vs "Do not depict environmental defenders as criminals or extremists or as posing a threat to public order, security, national interest and economic prosperity."
No coal has been burned for electricity for 17 days in a row. I think that is a record. Fossil power < 2% EVERY DAY in October, I think that is also a record. Image: Daily coal power generation in MWh, from em6
October 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
No coal has been burned for electricity for 17 days in a row. I think that is a record. Fossil power < 2% EVERY DAY in October, I think that is also a record. Image: Daily coal power generation in MWh, from em6
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
The may explain why no suspect information has been released. The French police have effectively conceded that the theft was not illegal because the items will be used to train large language models.
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software
FRENCH POLICE have immediately ended all efforts to recover priceless Napoleon-era jewellery from the Louvre taken in a daring heist after it emerged the jewels were merely stolen for the purposes of ...
waterfordwhispersnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The may explain why no suspect information has been released. The French police have effectively conceded that the theft was not illegal because the items will be used to train large language models.
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Reposted by Robert McLachlan
For anyone working in a museum, archive, gallery, or heritage collection, the Passenger Pigeon Manifesto is a good read. ppmanifesto.hcommons.org
A call to public galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and their funders to liberate our cultural heritage that has already been digitised. Illustrated with the cautionary tales of extinct species and our lack of access to what remains of them.
ppmanifesto.hcommons.org
October 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
For anyone working in a museum, archive, gallery, or heritage collection, the Passenger Pigeon Manifesto is a good read. ppmanifesto.hcommons.org
In a new report, Paul Callister and I examine the government's "Aviation Action Plan" and explore how the public/private group Sustainable Aviation Aotearoa, set up in 2022, appears to have failed. Story here:
theconversation.com/nzs-governme...
theconversation.com/nzs-governme...
NZ’s government wants tourism to drive economic growth – but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Emissions from international aviation (and shipping) account for 9% of New Zealand’s total. Without stronger policy to cut them, they could grow to a third by 2050.
theconversation.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:12 PM
In a new report, Paul Callister and I examine the government's "Aviation Action Plan" and explore how the public/private group Sustainable Aviation Aotearoa, set up in 2022, appears to have failed. Story here:
theconversation.com/nzs-governme...
theconversation.com/nzs-governme...