Robert McLachlan
@robertmclachlan.bsky.social
📤 692
📥 207
📝 1045
New Zealand mathematician, writing on climate & the environment at
http://planetaryecology.org
Your thoughts,
@radreduction.bsky.social
?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Experience: we sold everything to live on cruise ships
I used to get seasick – but after taking a chance on a cruise, I fell in love with ship-living, met my future partner onboard, and gave up life on land
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/29/experience-we-sold-everything-to-live-on-cruise-ships
about 3 hours ago
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OK, so councils will rush all of the following year's consents through a year earlier, to collect at the higher rate. Then none next year.
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1 day ago
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Robert McLachlan
Aarne Granlund
2 days ago
”People who care the most about the environment also do the most environmental damage with their jet-setting lifestyle, at least among those with the highest income and education.” This is why I choose to
#eMTB
to rivers and live sufficiently.
www.newscientist.com/article/2527...
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Wealthy people with environmental ideals are the biggest emitters
Among people of high socioeconomic status, love for nature corresponds with a bigger environmental footprint – and there's an obvious reason why
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2527775-wealthy-people-with-environmental-ideals-are-the-biggest-emitters/
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Robert McLachlan
Robbie Andrew
4 days ago
Across these five countries, crude production in April was down 42% compared to February.
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The requirement for an Energy Strategy is still part of the Emissions Reduction Plan. The Government said late last year that the requirement to consult on changes to the ERP would be scrapped in a new amendment to the Climate Change Response Act in 2026 but I don't think that has happened yet.
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6 days ago
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More and more? World fossil energy per person in 2024 was still at 2007 levels – no overall increase in 18 years.
10 days ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Dr Dean Knight
18 days ago
👀
add a skeleton here at some point
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Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
24 days ago
"It's a money winner"
www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
@cyclingactionnz.bsky.social
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RNZ Podcast: Thrift
As fuel costs rise, Katy Gosset talks to a transportation engineer about thrifty ways to get around instead of using the car.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2019033708/rnz-podcast-thrift
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Robert McLachlan
Climate Trunk
24 days ago
No country is too small to matter. Nations that each emit around 1% of global CO2 may look negligible on their own, but together they produce about 30% of the total – roughly as much as China. If they sit it out, the maths doesn’t stack up.
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Ilan Noy: "We will not even know the total value of damaged assets from the latest storm [in Wellington]. Surprisingly, governments in recent decades haven’t collected this information – perhaps preferring not to know the costs associated with extreme weather events."
newsroom.co.nz/2026/05/01/w...
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What's left behind when the water recedes
From Victoria University - Comment: Ilan Noy looks at the enduring and pervasive costs of environmental shocks beyond what we can see.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/05/01/whats-left-behind-when-the-water-recedes/
25 days ago
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Robert McLachlan
Derek Lowe
25 days ago
The helium shortage is now unavoidable. Another wonderful follow-on to the Iran War, and if you think helium doesn’t matter much, think again:
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Helium and the Strait of Hormuz
https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/helium-and-strait-hormuz
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Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
26 days ago
We're here to help. Here's our 6-point plan to mitigate the fuel crisis
www.can.org.nz/open-letter-...
@cyclingactionnz.bsky.social
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Open Letter re Fuel Crisis 2026 — Cycling Action Network
https://www.can.org.nz/open-letter-fuel-2026
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
about 1 month ago
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
@cyclingactionnz.bsky.social
@bikeauckland.bsky.social
@spokescanterbury.bsky.social
@rnzrss.bsky.social
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Cyclists call on government to implement better infrastructure amidst fuel crisis
An open letter with 470 signatures is urging politicians to support road controlling authorities to make changes to enable travel without the use of a car.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/593768/cyclists-call-on-government-to-implement-better-infrastructure-amidst-fuel-crisis
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
about 1 month ago
Here's 6 (six) affordable things the Govt and Councils should do ASAP to ease the fuel crisis, and save you money. Can you help? Sign our open letter to the PM
www.can.org.nz
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Cycling Action Network
https://www.can.org.nz/
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Robert McLachlan
Bike Auckland
about 1 month ago
We're almost at 500 signatures - have you signed the letter yet?
https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/campaigns/fuel-the-future/
👉 Ask the New Zealand Government to urgently allow widespread safe cycling infrastructure in response to the energy crisis.
#FueltheFuture
#ShiftLanesNZ
#FuelCrisis
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A lot of focus on rising electricity prices – but real residential prices are still lower than 15 years ago. Meanwhile, the margin between industrial & residential prices, which grew dramatically after the reforms of the 1980s, has been shrinking. Why is that?
about 1 month ago
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Here is NZ's diesel use last year. If you had to plan for Phase 4 & a say 20% shortfall in supply, how would you proceed? Ag forest fish 303 kt Industry 257 kt Buildings 173 kt Heavy vehicles (97% diesel) 1414 kt Light commercial vehicles (80% diesel) 855 kt Cars (8% diesel) 187 kt
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
about 1 month ago
In a fuel crisis, in a climate crisis, in an affordability crisis, why is Wellington cutting bike lane funding? Join us on Thursday to fight for a better city.
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Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
about 1 month ago
Bikes = jobs.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
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Government invests $800,000 to repair part of NZ Cycle Trail network
The funding will go towards Hauraki Rail Trail, Waikato River Trail, and Tasman's Great Taste Trail, following significant storm damage.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/593460/government-invests-800-000-to-repair-part-of-nz-cycle-trail-network
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reposted by
Robert McLachlan
James Murray
about 1 month ago
Government confirms international aviation and shipping emissions are to be included in national carbon budgets.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4528813...
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Aviation and shipping emissions set to be included in UK Carbon Budgets
Letter to Environmental Audit Committee confirms government will incorporate the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions in Carbon Budgets from 2033 onwards
https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4528813/aviation-shipping-emissions-set-included-uk-carbon-budgets
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Watch out!
about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
European Cyclists' Federation
about 1 month ago
📣𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: A coalition of European mobility advocates is calling on governments at all levels to urgently scale up cycling as a fast, affordable and energy-efficient solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 🔗Read the full article here:
tinyurl.com/33jjwttd
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Nice chart! Here is how New Zealand is doing. Transport is 39% of final energy consumption, industry 29%, buildings 27%, agriculture 6%. Data source: MBIE Energy in NZ 2025
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about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
Bike Auckland
about 1 month ago
The fuel crisis is a transport crisis - and government is too slow to react ⌛ Sign the call for emergency bike networks 🙏 Join us in repurposing our streets to keep Aotearoa moving during the fuel crisis.
https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/campaigns/fuel-the-future/
#ShiftLanesNZ
#FuelTheFuture
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The Economist, 21 April: "By April 20th the last few oil tankers to cross Hormuz before the war began reached their destinations, in Malaysia and California... The outlook could worsen if America ... bans exports of refined products, which have risen by nearly half since the start of the war."
about 1 month ago
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Notably absent: 🇳🇿
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about 1 month ago
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Fossil energy is unaffordable, unhealthy, and unreliable.
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about 1 month ago
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NZ's progress in squeezing out the last bit of fossil electricity is undone by the transport sector, which uses far more fossil energy than electricity (12x as much in 2025) and is also prone to increase rapidly.
about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland
about 1 month ago
In New Zealand we already have 100% new e-bus sales, by policy, and will have 100% e-bus fleet by 2035, also by policy. Clean tech + regulation = win.
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This fits. In New Zealand cars & cows are 71% of gross emissions (and our cows don't even eat corn).
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about 1 month ago
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This chart appears to be sourced from
kpler.com
, a reputable freight analytics firm, but the original is proprietary. If correct is suggests that mass flight cancellations are imminent, initially in Europe.
about 1 month ago
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Or to put in another way, in 2025 energy emissions rose by 145 MtCO2 to a new high of 38.4 Gt, 5% above 2019 levels. "The increase coincided with record atmospheric CO2 concentrations of about 427 ppm, roughly 2.4 ppm higher than in 2024 and around 50% above pre-industrial levels."
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about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
Cycling Action Network
about 1 month ago
Have a great time!
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Robert McLachlan
Prof. Eliot Jacobson
about 2 months ago
Your 'moment of doom' for Apr. 3, 2026 ~ Strangers on a strange planet. "Since climate change is also fundamentally disrupting atmospheric circulation patterns, we now have mega-unprecedented extreme events occurring with regularity."
yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/04/the-...
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The 2026 Southwest U.S. heat wave was one of the six most astonishing weather events of the century » Yale Climate Connections
From the Pacific Northwest to Antarctica, it's extraordinary warmth that's punching through climate norms with the most force.
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/04/the-2026-southwest-u-s-heat-wave-was-one-of-the-six-most-astonishing-weather-events-of-the-century/
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Robert McLachlan
Science Media Centre NZ
about 1 month ago
The human face of science funding cuts – Expert Reaction
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The human face of science funding cuts - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
Kiwi scientists share how funding cuts have impacted their research and careers, in a new report from the Save Science Coalition. Many of the profiled researchers have been made redundant or have moved...
https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/04/17/the-human-face-of-science-funding-cuts-expert-reaction
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New article by AUT's Matt Halliday: How much is climate misinformation shaping NZ Government policy?
blog.planetaryecology.org/2026/04/17/h...
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How much is climate misinformation shaping NZ Govt policy?
By Matt Halliday While an inquiry into climate misinformation is sounding alarm bells about fossil fuel propaganda and its threat to the very foundations of society across the Tasman, we’re even mo…
https://blog.planetaryecology.org/2026/04/17/how-much-is-climate-misinformation-shaping-nz-govt-policy/
about 1 month ago
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Robert McLachlan
Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures
about 1 month ago
Yesterday, we hosted a live screening of the People's Emergency Briefing. Throughout the film, UK scientists issued stark warnings about the climate crisis. Here are just a few responses made by our audience members following the film.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
@sheffielduni.bsky.social
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Robert McLachlan
Patrick Morgan
about 1 month ago
In a fuel crisis, why is Wellington back pedalling on bike lanes? Take action on Monday to save our bike lanes.
@cyclewgtn.bsky.social
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Robert McLachlan
Bike Auckland
about 1 month ago
Bike vs Car Calculator: Find out how much you save cycling instead of driving. Based on real NZ fuel prices, IRD mileage rates, and your actual commute distance. Well worth sharing with a friend who's struggling with fuel prices.
https://rideandsave.co.nz/
#fuelcrisis
#choosebike
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Robert McLachlan
Momentum Magazine
about 2 months ago
The Bicycle as Rebellion: Inside the new film 'A Simple Machine' and the Radical Case for Wanting Less.
momentummag.com/the-bicycle-...
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Robert McLachlan
Climate Trunk
about 1 month ago
Climate and the energy transition are two of this century’s biggest stories – so why are they so hard to understand? Introducing Climate Trunk: a visual guide to climate & energy. 100+ infographics delivered over two years, once a week. Grow your understanding, visually. Sign up to Climate Trunk 📮
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Robert McLachlan
Jessica de Heij
about 1 month ago
Adelaide City Council is launching pop-up bike lanes as bike sales soar by 136% amid the fuel crisis. “With fuel supplies squeezed and prices through the roof, South Australians need alternatives to cars to get to work, school and the shops,” said Greens leader Robert Simms.
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Party leader backs pop-up bikeways in Adelaide CBD - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
Plans to install pop-up bikeways won support overnight as the fuel crisis sparks investigations into temporary cycling infrastructure.
https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2026/04/15/party-leader-backs-pop-up-bikeways-in-cbd
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Robert McLachlan
Ben Ross
about 2 months ago
France first did this in the first oil crisis in the 70s by going Nuclear Power Now in 2026 it is finishing to job by going EV, heat pumps, and industry All able to use French Reactors, French Wind, and French Solar
add a skeleton here at some point
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You are invited to sign this open letter from Cycling Action Network calling on the government to build emergency bike networks.
www.can.org.nz/open-letter-...
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Open Letter re Fuel Crisis 2026 — Cycling Action Network
https://www.can.org.nz/open-letter-fuel-2026
about 2 months ago
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Robert McLachlan
Ketan Joshi
about 2 months ago
As the months roll on definitely bookmark
@robbieandrew.bsky.social
's EV registration page, to play spot-the-fuel-crisis-effect
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/?la...
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Collected vehicle registration data
Frequently updated charts and data for new vehicle registrations across countries.
https://robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/?lang=en&freq=monthly&type=absolute&sort=alphabetical&country=all
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"Vingroup JSC has asked the Vietnamese government to replace a large LNG power project with renewable energy due to surging fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict." hmm
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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Vietnam LNG Power Project Eyes Green Pivot on Soaring Gas Prices
Vingroup JSC has asked the Vietnamese government to allow it to replace a large liquefied natural gas power project with renewable energy, citing surging fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-31/vietnam-lng-power-project-eyes-green-pivot-on-soaring-gas-prices
about 2 months ago
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Robert McLachlan
David Hall
about 2 months ago
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Robert McLachlan
Giulio Mattioli
about 2 months ago
Here is also a blog summarising the talk and pointing to interesting related research from New Zealand / Aotearoa
livingstreets.org.nz/car-dependen...
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Car dependence: understanding barriers to change through the decades - Living Streets Aotearoa
The first Transport Research Webinar was hosted a couple of weeks ago by Living Streets Aotearoa, Transport Research Network (TRN), and Cycle Action Network (CAN). The webinar speaker was Dr Giulio Mattioli from TU Dortmund University who spoke about “Car dependence: understanding barriers to change through the decades”. The session was chaired by Dr Angela […]
https://livingstreets.org.nz/car-dependence-understanding-barriers-to-change-through-the-decades/
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Robert McLachlan
Giulio Mattioli
about 2 months ago
My talk on car dependence research for the Otago Transport Research Network & Living Streets Aotearoa Webinar Series is now on YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUu-...
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Dr Giulio Mattioli: Car dependence: understanding barriers to change through the decades
YouTube video by University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUu-j8m9Jv0
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Diesel from $1.85 up to $4.09 Petrol from $2.55 up to $3.52 Last year NZ used 3.9 billion litres diesel, extra cost $8.7b and 2.9 billion litres petrol, extra cost $2.8b Total if prices stay high for a year: $11.5 billion
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
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