It is now cheaper to run a fully electric home and EV in NZ than to use fossil fuels
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A new report shows Kiwi households could save thousands if they electrify their homes and cars. New Zealand is one of the first countries to reach what’s called the ‘electrification tipping point’, where households can save money and significantly reduce their emissions by electrifying their appliances and vehicles.
Speaking of reports, researchers at the University of Bonn found that a broad majority of the world's population supports climate action and is willing to incur a personal cost to fight climate change.
Meanwhile, back on the local front, more than 80 percent of New Zealanders see climate change as a personal concern, and for a small portion of the population it causes a level of worry so severe that it interferes with everyday life. This is known as climate anxiety.
Spending more time in nature is something we can all do to improve mental health. One city in Colombia is helping that happen by investing in ‘green corridors’ to provide fresh, cooling air and reduce temperatures.
Green initiatives are creating ‘green collar’ jobs all over the world, with New York City expecting to add 260,000 job opportunities over the next 15 years. Staying in the US, the EPA is about to give a handful of nonprofits $20 billion to make green lending accessible to more Americans. For an example of climate funding creating lasting impact, check out this deep dive on farmers restoring wetlands in California’s Central Valley.
Climate action is critical for reducing air pollution, which kills an estimated 7 million people per year worldwide – more than Aids and malaria combined. Research has found that only seven countries currently meet the world health organisation’s air quality standard. Did we make the list?
A large portion of worsening global air quality can be attributed to the burning of waste at landfills. A new report reveals the source of 1,200 major methane leaks from waste recorded since 2019.
To finish off, we have an entertainingly scathing article from The New Republic on the latest ‘honest’ rhetoric coming from oil and gas industry executives.
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Here is the full list of articles...
A new report by Rewiring Aotearoa compares the current costs of running fossil fuel vehicles and appliances with consumer-generated and grid power and finds fully electrifying a home and vehicles could significantly lower GHG emissions and save households $1500 to $5000 per year. Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey believes the country must make electrification a primary pillar of emissions reductions and recognise that lowest cost energy will come from communities. Read more…
A report based on research of 125 countries and 130,000 people concludes that the willingness of fellow citizens to fight climate change is systematically underestimated in every country surveyed. 69% of the world's population is willing to contribute 1% of their income to support policies and actions to address climate change, while there was universal support of 89% for increased political action. The report concludes that the broad majority of the worlds population supports both greater personal and political action than is often publicly assumed to be the case. Read more…
The looming symptoms of a climate destabilised have made it onto our doorsteps and remain on our minds. Kiwis have increasingly been confronted with floods, slips, extreme weather and even natural disasters, the fear of which can be palpable and even debilitating. The phenomenon, dubbed “climate anxiety”, poses a unique challenge for mental health professionals who must account for the complete lack of control individuals have over the warming climate. Like many climate issues, experts seek to tackle this with a new approach. Read more…
Who would’ve guessed reversing the urban heat island effect could be so beautiful? Medellín’s 30 Green Corridors were painted green through brushstrokes of vertical gardens and splatters of waterway vegetation. The addition of thousands of trees and plants have revitalised the city, with residents breathing cleaner air and enjoying the shade as they cycle and walk through their city filled with new (plant) life. Read more…
Over the next 15 years, New York City is to add 260,000 ‘Green Collar’ jobs. Opportunities in retrofitting apartment blocks, installing solar panels, EV charging stations, and wind turbines across the five boroughs. The first of its kind plan will train New Yorkers, particularly people who come from “environmentally-disadvantaged” communities, in roles to tackle climate impacts. The goal is to reach nearly 400,000 jobs by 2040. A workforce training facility will be constructed in every borough, and more than 12,000 apprenticeships set up in green building and construction. Read more…
The EPA is about to give a handful of nonprofits $20 billion to make green lending accessible to more Americans. The EPA is trying to get money to smaller community lenders across the country that then will be used to finance clean energy projects, whether it’s heat pumps, solar or renovating an affordable apartment building to make it energy efficient. This program is EPA’s attempt to inject green capital into their financial system for use by smaller community lenders all across the country. Read more…
A California Wetland Program aims to reverse a decline in bird life, which was created by draining wetlands and converting to farmland along birds migratory flight paths. With many species rapidly declining along the Pacific Flyway, conservationists and landowners in the Central Valley are creating temporary wetlands where birds need them most. The program pays landowners to flood their land, creating temporary wetlands. The practice is good for growers, too, as farms benefit from periodic rotations out of production. Read more…
Research has found that only seven countries currently meet the world health organisation’s air quality standard. Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people per year worldwide – more than Aids and malaria combined, and sadly, the burden is heavily felt by developing countries reliant on fossil fuels. Although New Zealand is one of the seven who meet the standard, we share the atmospheric envelope with everyone else in the world and we need to make sure we are not doing things that harm those elsewhere. Read more…
A large portion of worsening air quality can be attributed to the burning of waste at landfills. Take Delhi in April 2022, where the methane emitted from waste poured into the atmosphere at a rate of 434 tonnes an hour – the equivalent of 68 million petrol cars running simultaneously. This issue is largely ‘out of sight’ for rich nations that have biodigesters or export their waste to developing countries. The Delhi example is one of 1,200 major methane leaks from waste since 2019. Read more…
To wrap things up, we’d like to showcase how refreshingly honest oil executives have been lately. Their change in tune has made it explicitly clear that they’re not allies in the fight for our climate. Amin Hassan Nasser of Saudi Aramco said, “We should abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas”. ExxonMobil Chief Darren Woods has attempted to shift the blame onto consumers. Anyone who cares about the climate – policymakers especially – the enemy is now clearer than ever. It’s time to get rid of these high emitting industries. Read more…
This week we have the following innovation articles we hope you find interesting:
Hydrology Report - 28 March 2024
Electricity Price Index - 28 March 2024
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