Robert McLachlan
@robertmclachlan.bsky.social
đ€ 519
đ„ 195
đ 729
New Zealand mathematician, writing on climate & the environment at
http://planetaryecology.org
This sounds like a case study in how to destroy community support for renewable energy. "PahÄ«atua Windfarm Ltd has not responded to the ManawatĆ« Standardâs several requests for comment, nor has it updated its website or series of community newsletters since March."
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
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The Post
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360876837/wind-farm-consent-sets-low-bar-says-resident
about 3 hours ago
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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...
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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.
https://myhero.com/no-one-is-an-island
about 5 hours ago
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Robert McLachlan
Ketan Joshi
10 days ago
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...
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Robert McLachlan
Manu Caddie
about 17 hours ago
âvery clearly, it has been shown that the National Party are happy to sign up to these things when theyâre in opposition for the sake of looking as though theyâre constructive, and when it comes to holding the reins of power, their word isnât worth anything,â
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/g...
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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
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/06/gutting-of-zero-carbon-act-crashes-bipartisan-climate-consensus/
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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...
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Carbon News
Carbon News NZ Climate Policy Carbon Markets
https://www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35982/does-nzs-2035-ndc-meet-paris-agreement-obligations
1 day ago
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The NZ car industry has made no progress towards meeting the 2025 emissions standards. Are they even trying?
1 day ago
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Bloomberg reporting on NZ's weakening climate ambition
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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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 nationâs Emissions Trading Scheme.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-05/new-zealand-emissions-unit-prices-tumble-on-climate-law-changes
3 days ago
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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 days ago
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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.
4 days ago
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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
8 days ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
RadReduction (Larry Edwards)
10 days ago
Here's a video of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1N7...
. October 25. Wow!
add a skeleton here at some point
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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."
11 days ago
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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
add a skeleton here at some point
14 days ago
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www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
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NZâs government wants tourism to drive economic growth â but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Globally, passenger traffic is projected to grow by 3.8 percent annually over the next 20 years. In New Zealand, this optimism is reflected in Jetstar's expansion plans for its domestic and trans-Tasm...
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/576607/nz-s-government-wants-tourism-to-drive-economic-growth-but-how-will-it-deal-with-aviation-emissions
17 days ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
James Dyke
18 days ago
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...
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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 ...
https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/louvre-thieves-given-immunity-after-confirming-jewels-stolen-for-purpose-of-training-ai-software/
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Robert McLachlan
Mike Dickison
19 days ago
For anyone working in a museum, archive, gallery, or heritage collection, the Passenger Pigeon Manifesto is a good read.
ppmanifesto.hcommons.org
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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.
https://ppmanifesto.hcommons.org/
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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...
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NZâs government wants tourism to drive economic growth â but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Emissions from international aviation (and shipping) account for 9% of New Zealandâs total. Without stronger policy to cut them, they could grow to a third by 2050.
https://theconversation.com/nzs-government-wants-tourism-to-drive-economic-growth-but-how-will-it-deal-with-aviation-emissions-267726
19 days ago
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This looks good
events.humanitix.com/save-denniston
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Denniston - a place worth fighting for.
Join us at Parliament's Banquet Hall for an engaging talk & photo exhibition showcasing the beauty of the Denniston Plateau. Wine, beer and appetisers provided.
https://events.humanitix.com/save-denniston
19 days ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Climate Liberation Aotearoa
20 days ago
PĆneke Fun(d)raising Gig to support Denniston Defenders đđđ„ F*&@ isolation & intimidation tactics. Let's come together & raise some fun! Join us to support the amazing
#climateactivists
who occupied a coal bucket for 23 days to try & stop
#BathurstResources
new coal mine at
#DennistonPlateau
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Robert McLachlan
Christina Hood
24 days ago
The top of the range is also not compatible. Global average agricultural methane reduction in 1.5C scenarios is 32% from 2020 levels. 24% is what "no additional warming" for NZ would be if the rest of the world were on that 32% reduction 1.5C path.
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Robert McLachlan
Rebecca Priestley
24 days ago
Went to more sessions on coastal adaptation today then had a chat to protesters outside the
@adaptationfutures.bsky.social
conference. Totally agree: we are in a climate emergency and mitigation (reducing emissions) should still be top priority, unfortunately we now also need to adapt to đ„” đ âïž
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Samuel Mehr, 2023 Prime Ministerâs Emerging Scientist: This "is a terrible idea. It will weaken our global competitiveness and accelerate our âbrain drainâ to Australia, Canada, Europe and various other attractive destinations for our top scientific minds."
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24 days ago
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Jane Harding, President RSTA: "Our concern is that, with the Board ... embedded in a government department... future funding decisions could be influenced... by factors beyond the excellence of the research." The Government has ALREADY changed Marsden to be decided by factors other than excellence.
add a skeleton here at some point
24 days ago
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""Our trading partners are unlikely to smile on this reduction in ambition," [Renwick] said." â perhaps we'll hear from the EU High Commission in Wellington about this soon
add a skeleton here at some point
26 days ago
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Nice
26 days ago
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Robert McLachlan
Troy Baisden
27 days ago
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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Robert McLachlan
Newsroom NZ
27 days ago
Comment: The Government's methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus.
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Farmers off the hook on climate means rest of us pick up the slack
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/farmers-off-the-hook-on-climate-means-rest-of-us-pick-up-the-slack/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1760293264-3
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Robert McLachlan
Oli - ultracrepidarian
27 days ago
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
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Robert McLachlan
Veronika Meduna
27 days ago
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...
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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...
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/christina-hood-71a1b024_new-zealands-recent-paris-agreement-target-activity-7382939060698271744-D5O7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAA5J1ycBW4Yv-5K5_CSEYh1afbllln9REoY
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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...
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https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-sets-methane-targets-2050
27 days ago
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Dr Isaac Henderson from the NZ drone industry says, "The drone doesnât know if itâs being flown for military or civilian purposes". Reminds me of Tom Lehrer's Wernher von Braun...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
about 1 month ago
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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.
about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
James Renwick
about 1 month ago
"...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/...
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Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to âintractableâ systemic problems, study says
Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/06/carbon-offsets-fail-cut-global-heating-intractable-systemic-problems-study?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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New Zealand ranks 30th in the world for share of low-carbon electricity.
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
University Workers for Palestine
about 1 month ago
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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Government investing in thermal backup â see Marsden B. Diesel fired, built in 1978, never used. Sold for parts to India in 2012.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_B
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Marsden B - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_B
about 1 month ago
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Today (30 Sep 2025) an all-time record was set for solar power generation in New Zealand â 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?
about 1 month ago
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In August, the market share of fully electric light vehicles in Australia was triple that of NZ (10% vs 3.4%).
about 1 month ago
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So long, Mt Fuji
about 1 month ago
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"A lack of consistent planning and basic investment [has] led to the collapse of New Zealandâs regional public transport" New article by Paul Callister and Heidi O'Callahan
thefutureisrail.org/solving-our-...
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Solving our regional mobility crisis
More flights and better roads do little to solve the regional mobility crisis. Passenger trains, coupled with an improved long-distance bus network, restore mobility for New Zealanders throughout the ...
https://thefutureisrail.org/solving-our-regional-mobility-crisis
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Naomi Oreskes
about 1 month ago
Itâs becoming a tragedy that we have to keep repeating this⊠or maybe a farceâŠ
newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/25/y...
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You can lead people to data, but you can't make them think
Comment from Auckland University: Scientific evidence for human-induced climate change is beyond dispute, so why is disinformation still so rife?
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/25/you-can-lead-people-to-data-but-you-cant-make-them-think/
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Cycling Action Network
about 1 month ago
Grabbing a water bottle, she unlocked the bike, and set off down the drive. The clouds scudded across the sky, the wind was fresh, and she noticed the new spring growth. She breathed deeply, and there it was again - that old cycling magic; it never failed to arrive.
#VoteForBikes
#CyclingMagic
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Very little wind power was completed in New Zealand from 2011 to 2020 â capacity only increased 10% in 10 years. Very little geothermal was completed from 2014 to 2023 - capacity only increased 10% in 10 years. Then everything took off. Thanks, Zero Carbon Act of 2019
about 2 months ago
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It was so windy yesterday I thought we might see a new daily record for wind power... but it was only 6th best. Still, 20 million kWh, that's enough to boil water for 600 million cups of tea. Data in MWh/day from
app.em6.co.nz
about 2 months ago
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MBIE says real electricity prices have tipped back above their pre-Covid level, Stats NZ say not yet.
about 2 months ago
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New Zealand mentioned at the GeoGessr World Cup!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7rK...
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GeoGuessr 2024 World Cup - Grand Finals (Highlights)
YouTube video by rainbolt clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7rKQcoEnOw&t=154s
about 2 months ago
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Time for some good news about the NZ electricity sector!
about 2 months ago
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Robert McLachlan
All Our Yesterdays
about 2 months ago
September 11, 2015 â Pacific Island leaders fail to shift Australia and New Zealand from open climate criminality⊠i.e. "to back stronger targets on limiting global warming as the showdown at the Pacific Islands Forum on Thursday ended in a stalemate."
allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/10/s...
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September 11, 2015 - Pacific Island leaders fail to shift Australia and New Zealand⊠- All Our Yesterdays
Ten years ago, on this day, September 11th, 2015, AAP, 2015. Pacific island leaders fail to shift Australia and NZ on climate targets. The Guardian, 11 September https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015...
https://allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/10/september-11-2015-pacific-island-leaders-fail-to-shift-australia-and-new-zealand/
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New Zealand Energy Quarterly, June 2025 Fossil fuel use continued its decline this quarter. Rolling 12-month electricity emissions (4.1 Mt CO2) are 59% below peak, gas (2.9 Mt) is 35% below peak, coal (1.3 Mt) 53% below peak, and oil (18.3 Mt) 6% below peak. [1/6]
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
2 months ago
Frankie is a fan of bike lanes. "Now I feel safe."
@cyclewgtn.bsky.social
#WellingtonBikeLife
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