Kirsty Johnston
@kirstyjohnston.bsky.social
Investigative journalist | The Crewe Murders 📖 | Nellie’s Baby 🎧 | I tell stories about people | [email protected] ✉️
https://www.instagram.com/kirstyjohnston_nz?igsh=bWU4a2pqemthYm5q
https://www.instagram.com/kirstyjohnston_nz?igsh=bWU4a2pqemthYm5q
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
What would it take to meet the NDC domestically? Emissions would need to fall 12% every year to 2030 – more than twice the one-off Covid-19 dip, about equal to the one-off GFC decline. So... five GFCs' worth of emissions cutting.
By 2030, NZ would need net zero CO2 and ~30% decline in methane.
By 2030, NZ would need net zero CO2 and ~30% decline in methane.
December 2, 2025 at 9:27 PM
What would it take to meet the NDC domestically? Emissions would need to fall 12% every year to 2030 – more than twice the one-off Covid-19 dip, about equal to the one-off GFC decline. So... five GFCs' worth of emissions cutting.
By 2030, NZ would need net zero CO2 and ~30% decline in methane.
By 2030, NZ would need net zero CO2 and ~30% decline in methane.
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
84Mt of CO2 is around NZ$38billion of extra damages to the global climate (disasters, lost productivity, failed crops, ...) [w/ US EPA social cost of carbon].
not performative it's deadly serious. Our emissions are a small global share, but they still have a very real impact.
not performative it's deadly serious. Our emissions are a small global share, but they still have a very real impact.
December 2, 2025 at 2:16 AM
84Mt of CO2 is around NZ$38billion of extra damages to the global climate (disasters, lost productivity, failed crops, ...) [w/ US EPA social cost of carbon].
not performative it's deadly serious. Our emissions are a small global share, but they still have a very real impact.
not performative it's deadly serious. Our emissions are a small global share, but they still have a very real impact.
For context: NZ's 2030 target was designed to be met in two parts, with a third domestic emissions savings and a larger contribution fromoffshore credits.
Great explainer by @eloisegibson.bsky.social here
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Great explainer by @eloisegibson.bsky.social here
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
December 2, 2025 at 1:16 AM
For context: NZ's 2030 target was designed to be met in two parts, with a third domestic emissions savings and a larger contribution fromoffshore credits.
Great explainer by @eloisegibson.bsky.social here
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Great explainer by @eloisegibson.bsky.social here
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
“Under questioning in the meeting, Willis also confirmed the government had no intention of buying offshore carbon credits to meet the 2030 Paris agreement as part of a "performative awards ceremony" even if that meant it would breach its commitment.”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
'A bit tired, a bit ratty': Heated exchange between Willis and Labour MPs at Parliament
The Finance Minister has called the opposition's behaviour "unbecoming" after accusations of name-calling and conspiracy-thinking.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 1, 2025 at 11:21 PM
“Under questioning in the meeting, Willis also confirmed the government had no intention of buying offshore carbon credits to meet the 2030 Paris agreement as part of a "performative awards ceremony" even if that meant it would breach its commitment.”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
‘Fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban’ - RNZ
My Stuff #cartoon today #nzpol #FossilFuels
My Stuff #cartoon today #nzpol #FossilFuels
November 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
‘Fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban’ - RNZ
My Stuff #cartoon today #nzpol #FossilFuels
My Stuff #cartoon today #nzpol #FossilFuels
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government is no longer committed to advocating for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, marking a significant change in position.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
Govt backtracks on fossil fuel phase-out
Australia, the UK, the EU and Pacific nations backed a roadmap away from fossil fuels at COP30, but New Zealand didn't sign up
newsroom.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 12:26 AM
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government is no longer committed to advocating for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, marking a significant change in position.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
A captured Government.
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
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 oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A captured Government.
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
"Internal documents show how the sector repeatedly lobbied Resources Minister Shane Jones to dilute New Zealand's clean-up rules for ageing oil fields - rules brought in to protect taxpayers after the 2019 Tui Oil Field collapse left the state burdened with a $300m bill."
#NewZealand #nzpol
#NewZealand #nzpol
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
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 oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
"Internal documents show how the sector repeatedly lobbied Resources Minister Shane Jones to dilute New Zealand's clean-up rules for ageing oil fields - rules brought in to protect taxpayers after the 2019 Tui Oil Field collapse left the state burdened with a $300m bill."
#NewZealand #nzpol
#NewZealand #nzpol
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
The dark fleet hiding in our own backyard: How the Cook Islands sold its flag to Moscow and Tehran
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: How shadow fleets made the Cook Islands flag inconvienent.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
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 oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
#RailNews: KiwiRail has launched a carbon calculator to meet increasing demand from customers wanting to compare carbon emissions from rail, road and air.
Via Travel Weekly: travelweekly.com.au/kiwirail-lau...
Via Travel Weekly: travelweekly.com.au/kiwirail-lau...
KiwiRail launches carbon calculator to meet increasing customer demand
KiwiRail launches carbon calculator to meet increasing demand from customers wanting to compare carbon emissions from rail, road, and air.
travelweekly.com.au
November 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
#RailNews: KiwiRail has launched a carbon calculator to meet increasing demand from customers wanting to compare carbon emissions from rail, road and air.
Via Travel Weekly: travelweekly.com.au/kiwirail-lau...
Via Travel Weekly: travelweekly.com.au/kiwirail-lau...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
#NZpol
"We're at a crossroads here. We could have this low-cost renewables future but we're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory," says Fuge.
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
RNZ story by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
"We're at a crossroads here. We could have this low-cost renewables future but we're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory," says Fuge.
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
RNZ story by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
It's expensive, vulnerable to price shocks and terrible for the planet. So why are we importing gas?
www.rnz.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
#NZpol
"We're at a crossroads here. We could have this low-cost renewables future but we're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory," says Fuge.
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
RNZ story by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
"We're at a crossroads here. We could have this low-cost renewables future but we're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory," says Fuge.
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
RNZ story by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
Great work @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social on this article, which shines a light on how short-sighted scrapping of good initiatives around energy by this current government led to us being painted into a corner that makes it seem our “only” option is importing gas.
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
It's expensive, vulnerable to price shocks and terrible for the planet. So why are we importing gas?
www.rnz.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Great work @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social on this article, which shines a light on how short-sighted scrapping of good initiatives around energy by this current government led to us being painted into a corner that makes it seem our “only” option is importing gas.
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
I looked into importing gas (LNG) as a solution to our energy woes, and almost no one except the domestic gas industry thinks it’s a good idea.
So why why is a “last-resort” fuel suddenly the centrepiece of our energy plan?
🔗 www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
So why why is a “last-resort” fuel suddenly the centrepiece of our energy plan?
🔗 www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
It's expensive, vulnerable to price shocks and terrible for the planet. So why are we importing gas?
www.rnz.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I looked into importing gas (LNG) as a solution to our energy woes, and almost no one except the domestic gas industry thinks it’s a good idea.
So why why is a “last-resort” fuel suddenly the centrepiece of our energy plan?
🔗 www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
So why why is a “last-resort” fuel suddenly the centrepiece of our energy plan?
🔗 www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
"Do you really think (big tech) just accidentally kneecapped the fourth estate and gave themselves the power rich guys have been frothing at the mouth to attain ... the power to control public opinion? If so, then I'm afraid the dummy is you and I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
A rallying cry for my fellow journalists to put their boots on and grow a backbone.
drilled.media/news/media-b...
drilled.media/news/media-b...
Make Media Brave Again
The only way to protect what’s left of journalism is to do the job right.
drilled.media
November 8, 2025 at 10:28 PM
"Do you really think (big tech) just accidentally kneecapped the fourth estate and gave themselves the power rich guys have been frothing at the mouth to attain ... the power to control public opinion? If so, then I'm afraid the dummy is you and I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
Mark Mitchell says 36 emails about Jevon McSkimming were kept from him by police
Mark Mitchell says 36 emails about Jevon McSkimming were kept from him by police
Mark Mitchell says a protocol was put in place by the Commissioner's office so the Minister didn't see the emails.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Mark Mitchell says 36 emails about Jevon McSkimming were kept from him by police
Something I've been thinking about recently is how much time and effort it takes to pick your way through the different vested interests and ideologies and biases when reporting a new subject. I feel like it's getting more and more complicated or maybe I'm simply more aware of the minefield?
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Something I've been thinking about recently is how much time and effort it takes to pick your way through the different vested interests and ideologies and biases when reporting a new subject. I feel like it's getting more and more complicated or maybe I'm simply more aware of the minefield?
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
now that women have ruined the workplace we should just get rid of it
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 AM
now that women have ruined the workplace we should just get rid of it
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
Ahead of #COP30 a new article from me, unpacking whether New Zealand's 2035 Paris Agreement target (a 51-55% reduction) meets Paris Agreement criteria.
TLDR lol no.
(outside the paywall, thanks Carbon News!)
TLDR lol no.
(outside the paywall, thanks Carbon News!)
Carbon News
Carbon News NZ Climate Policy Carbon Markets
www.carbonnews.co.nz
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Ahead of #COP30 a new article from me, unpacking whether New Zealand's 2035 Paris Agreement target (a 51-55% reduction) meets Paris Agreement criteria.
TLDR lol no.
(outside the paywall, thanks Carbon News!)
TLDR lol no.
(outside the paywall, thanks Carbon News!)
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
At every turn, the Government has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Government’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn
Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes
newsroom.co.nz
November 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
At every turn, the Government has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Government’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
@desmog.com reviewed US tax records which show Bill Gates’ charity has donated more than $3.5 million to a think tank run by Danish academic and climate crisis denier Bjørn Lomborg www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
Bill Gates Gave $3.5M to Think Tank Run by Climate Crisis Denier Bjorn Lomborg
Tax records reveal that the billionaire’s foundation has donated for years to Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center.
www.desmog.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 AM
@desmog.com reviewed US tax records which show Bill Gates’ charity has donated more than $3.5 million to a think tank run by Danish academic and climate crisis denier Bjørn Lomborg www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
I mean what’s a little plea deal on a Thursday afternoon
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 AM
I mean what’s a little plea deal on a Thursday afternoon
When I wrote this just two-ish months ago, the premise was that the architecture of the CCRA (zero carbon act) remained, but the policies that sustained it had been hollowed out.
With the CCRA changes today, I feel like that no longer holds
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
With the CCRA changes today, I feel like that no longer holds
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
How Jacinda Ardern’s ‘groundbreaking’ climate law has become ‘a shell’
The Zero Carbon Act promised to lock climate ambition into law. But with key policies repealed, delayed or watered down, the once 'world-leading' legislation has become a husk of its former self.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 5, 2025 at 12:08 AM
When I wrote this just two-ish months ago, the premise was that the architecture of the CCRA (zero carbon act) remained, but the policies that sustained it had been hollowed out.
With the CCRA changes today, I feel like that no longer holds
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
With the CCRA changes today, I feel like that no longer holds
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
Reposted by Kirsty Johnston
The Govt quietly announced a loosening of climate rules at 8pm last night:
- Decoupling the ETS from Paris
- Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years
- Delaying the public sector target by 25 years
- Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans:
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
- Decoupling the ETS from Paris
- Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years
- Delaying the public sector target by 25 years
- Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans:
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Government quietly loosens climate rules
An announcement at 8pm on Tuesday saw the Government delinking the ETS from the Paris Agreement and extending another emissions deadline by 25 years.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The Govt quietly announced a loosening of climate rules at 8pm last night:
- Decoupling the ETS from Paris
- Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years
- Delaying the public sector target by 25 years
- Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans:
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
- Decoupling the ETS from Paris
- Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years
- Delaying the public sector target by 25 years
- Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans:
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
I just called someone for input on a story and said, "are you busy?" and they said "not too busy to say no comment" and hung up. A+
November 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I just called someone for input on a story and said, "are you busy?" and they said "not too busy to say no comment" and hung up. A+