Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 4h

""Our trading partners are unlikely to smile on this reduction in ambition," [Renwick] said." – perhaps we'll hear from the EU High Commission in Wellington about this soon

Kirsty Johnston @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social · 7h

I thought I’d have a go at answering the question: what’s the flow on effect on emissions budgets from the methane cuts?

The answer was worse than I had anticipated

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Scientists fear weaker methane target signals wider retreat from climate action

After cutting methane targets, New Zealand has a choice: shoulder the burden at huge cost - or cause more warming to the planet.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 10h

As long as it doesn't prevent you refreshing the election website every 5 minutes

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 10h

Kaydee in, Butt out. Māori wards now 0.3% ahead in Horizons region

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 12h

Nice

Graph showing NZ % fossil electricity generation falling from 17% to 2% since August

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Reposted by Robert McLachlan

Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · 20h

NZ's new methane target:

Represents doing nothing if historic efficiency gains continue, and assumes new mitigations won't work.

Worse, our farmers need to realise it cedes the future of the paperwork they complain about to places like Brussels instead of Wellington.

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Reposted by Robert McLachlan

Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 17h

Comment: The Government's methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus.

Farmers off the hook on climate means rest of us pick up the slack

newsroom.co.nz

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Reposted by Robert McLachlan

Oli - ultracrepidarian @olimnz.bsky.social · 1d

I was gobsmacked to see this as the lead item on the Six O'clock News with a very critical slant.

If the farmers & Govt have lost 1News, then they're in trouble. Good.
#nzpol

1News NZ (Unofficial) @1newsnz.nzcow.com · 1d

📢 The target would be set at a range of 14-24% below 2017 levels by 2050.

👉 More news/weather bots

Govt to lower methane reduction target, rules out methane taxes

www.1news.co.nz

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Reposted by Robert McLachlan

Veronika Meduna @veronikameduna.bsky.social · 1d

On the eve of a major international meeting on climate adaptation, NZ's government announces it is weakening its 2050 target to cut methane emissions - now only 14-24% (from 24-47%). As @christinahood.bsky.social says, NZ is now backtracking www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

New Zealand's recent Paris Agreement target update was shockingly unambitious, but today's decision to weaken our domestic 2050 target goes even further: we are now backtracking. I am not awar...

New Zealand's recent Paris Agreement target update was shockingly unambitious, but today's decision to weaken our domestic 2050 target goes even further: we are now backtracking. I am not aware of any...

www.linkedin.com

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, The EU-NZ FTA includes the obligation to “refrain from any action or omission that materially defeats the object and purpose of the Paris Agreement” or Parties may take “appropriate measures”. I’d like to see the Government’s legal advice on this.

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 1d

Current methane target: -24 to -47% by 2050.
New methane target: -14 to -24% by 2050.
Also, two year delay in critical decisions on carbon budgets and ag pricing permanently canned.
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/gove...

www.beehive.govt.nz

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 3d

No country has a transport emissions policy that meets the Paris Agreement. But the EU has at least strengthened fuel efficiency standards, taxed jet fuel (a little), and included international aviation and shipping.

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Dr Isaac Henderson from the NZ drone industry says, "The drone doesn’t know if it’s being flown for military or civilian purposes".

Reminds me of Tom Lehrer's Wernher von Braun...

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Don't say that he's hypocritical
Say rather that he's apolitical
"Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department!" says Wernher von Braun

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 6d

Governor General Lord Plunket's farewell to Palmerston North, 23 May 1910: "we will watch when you are going to put the trams here, or how bridges you are going to have at Hokowhitu." My answer, 115 years later: it's too soon to tell.

Reposted by Robert McLachlan

James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 6d

"...deep-seated systemic problems that incremental change will not solve." Right - time to stop pissing around and do everything we can to get off fossil fuels.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 8d

New Zealand says – hold my beer

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 8d

About 70th on 35%, world average 41%

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 9d

New Zealand ranks 30th in the world for share of low-carbon electricity.

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 10d

‘My son genuinely believed it was real’: Parents are letting little kids play with AI. Are they wrong?

Some believe AI can spark their child’s imagination through personalized stories and generative images. Scientists are wary of its effect on creativity

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Robert McLachlan

University Workers for Palestine @uwp-aotearoa.bsky.social · 12d

UNISAVER MUST DIVEST FROM GEN0C!DE

If UniSaver does not respond to our demand, we will launch a campaign to get unis across the motu to sever ties with UniSaver.

Show your support by signing the open letter here: tinyurl.com/26tj4kpj

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 12d

Is that why for decades government has declined to appoint board members and agrees to never challenge the boards' choice of chair?

Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 12d

Government investing in thermal backup – see Marsden B. Diesel fired, built in 1978, never used. Sold for parts to India in 2012.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_B

Marsden B - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 12d

A reminder that more fossil generation = higher prices

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 12d

I'm not seeing payments to build renewables? I see "develop,
in consultation with industry, a regulatory framework to create lasting incentives for investment in firm generation." That could mean geothermal or it could mean subsidising fossil fuels.

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Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 13d

Today (30 Sep 2025) an all-time record was set for solar power generation in New Zealand – 1200 MWh from solar farms. (Distributed solar, not shown, likely also a record.) Alas, it earned only 0.08 c/kWh for its owners. Not a great incentive to build more. What will tomorrow's announcement bring?

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