Nick
Smith, Tim Groser - New Zealand will join
the next round of United Nations negotiations
on a future international climate change
agreement in Bonn, Germany, from 29 March
to 8 April, says Minister for Climate Change
Issues, Nick Smith and Associate Minister
for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser.
"The Bonn meeting
will have a special focus on agriculture,
which produces almost a fifth of global
annual greenhouse gas emissions," Mr
Groser said.
"Agriculture faces
a unique set of challenges: feeding a growing
world population, different practices across
countries, and technology limitations. We
need the next climate deal to pay more attention
to this important sector.
"At Bonn, New Zealand
will participate in a workshop on the challenges
and opportunities for reducing emissions
from agriculture.
"New Zealand has
proven expertise, and we want to work more
closely with other countries to grow the
global research effort in this area."
Dr Smith says that the
international community needs a long term
global goal to aim for.
"New Zealand supports
a global goal of long-term stabilisation
of all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
at a concentration of no higher than 450
parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalents.
This goal will be kept under review based
on latest available intergovernmental assessments
of science," says Dr Smith.
The Bonn meeting will
provide an opportunity to outline New Zealand's
'50 by 50' goal, a 50 per cent reduction
of net greenhouse gases from 11000 levels
by 2050.
"New Zealand will
be looking to contribute in ways that make
sense for us and recognise the features
of our country and how we make a living.
However, we will not finalise our international
commitments until we know what costs are
involved, and what rules apply," Dr
Smith says.
The next major conference
will take place in Copenhagen in December.
+ More
Northland a priority
area for new aquaculture
Nick Smith, Phil Heatley
- The Government is to investigate finfish
and oyster farming opportunities in Northland
in a bid to grow New Zealand's aquaculture
industry, Minister for the Environment Nick
Smith and Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley
announced today.
"The main objective
is to determine the feasibility of potential
Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs) for
oyster and finfish farming and related aquaculture
activities," Dr Smith said.
It will allow 19 possible
AMA sites identified by the Northland Regional
Council to be evaluated for their potential
as marine farms, as well as investigating
whether other promising sites exist around
the Northland coast.
"This is further
evidence of the Government's commitment
to backing aquaculture as a greater earner
of export revenue and a provider of domestic
jobs," Mr Heatley said.
"This coordinated
approach to planning for the future dovetails
with the Government's overhaul of the Resource
Management Act, which includes the rules
governing aquaculture.
"The aquaculture
industry has a goal of becoming a $1 billion-a-year
industry by the year 2025 and the Government
is committed to helping it achieve this
target."
The project, led by
the Ministry for the Environment, will undertake
research to identify some of the best locations
for aquaculture on the basis of their productive
potential. Initially the Ministry will be
talking to groups with an interest in aquaculture
about their preferences, particularly in
relation to the areas and types of farming
they consider worthy of further investigation.
The Ministry will then
carry out detailed assessments of the environmental
effects of marine farming in these preferred
locations and consult with those who might
consider themselves potentially affected
by any such development. The project will
take around 18 months to complete.
"Engagement with
the Northland Regional Council, industry,
iwi and others with an interest in aquaculture
will ensure that any decisions made are
based on good research and communication,"
Mr Heatley said.
The wider Northland
community will be informed through regular
progress reports and will also have the
normal opportunities to participate under
the RMA.
The project will be
run with careful consideration given to
the direction and guidance set by the regional
council through Plan Change 4 to its Regional
Coastal Plan.
"Ultimately, the
project will result in a solid, credible
body of information on the prospects for
aquaculture in Northland. This work will
be of great value in helping further develop
a sustainable aquaculture industry in Northland
and therefore assisting the region in diversifying
its economy," Dr Smith said.
