Latest news with #Greenpeace
Euronews
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
'Dirty fuel': Greenpeace protests fossil gas investment in Greece
The Greek Coast Guard stopped a three-hour protest by activists from the Greek office of Greenpeace at the FSRU Alexandroupolis floating liquefaction unit on Wednesday. The activists were anchored with banners reading "STOP fossil gas" and on the staircase of the terminal with banners that said "Fossil gas: not approved", aiming to send a strong message against what they say are the country's unnecessary and wasteful investments in fossil gas. Greenpeace said it didn't prevent the plant's operations and its only aim was to highlight the problem and the need for rapid decarbonisation of fossil fuels and a just transition to a zero-emission economy. Today's action comes with an urgent demand to the government: ban the construction of new fossil gas plants in Greece and phase out fossil gas by 2035. Only then do we have the chance of limiting global warming to tolerable levels and rescuing the country's vital natural resources from the climate crisis, according to the environmental organisation. "The peaceful action of our office activists sent the message that fossil gas, whether in liquid or gaseous form, is the same dirty fuel, and should have no place in our lives," says Costas Kaloudis, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace's Greek office. "It destroys our climate, health, environment and economy. The government must immediately reconsider its stance on building new gas plants in the country." Why is Alexandroupolis FSRU a target for climate protestors? The Alexandroupolis FSRU is located in a marine protected area and is largely financed by public funds. Its presence and operation have serious implications for the present and future, as it causes greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, the most powerful greenhouse gas. It also disturbs the marine environment in the country's most important fishing ground, sucking up millions of tonnes of seawater and killing fish and other marine organisms. Along with other environmental organisations, Greenpeace has appealed to Greece's Council of State to cancel the plant's permits because of its serious environmental impacts and its contribution to the worsening climate crisis. The action is taking place as a partial reopening of the plant is expected in August, as well as a hearing of the environmental organisations' appeal in October. This peaceful action is also part of Greenpeace's Europe-wide Fossil Free Future campaign and the Stop Fossil Gas tour across Europe. The organisation's flagship ship, Arctic Sunrise, is touring European cities to raise awareness about Europe's energy system and the need for immediate decarbonisation. At the same time, it is promoting the abolition of fossil gas and a fair and gradual transition to renewable energy sources, which will allow everyone to meet their energy needs at decent prices, without harming society, the planet and the environment. The ship has visited Belgium, Italy and Croatia, and last weekend came to Greece, in Heraklion, Crete. Greenpeace has published a Europe-wide call for a ban on all new fossil gas - and fossil fuel - infrastructure projects in the EU, which has already gathered 83,000 signatures. What is Alexandroupolis FSRU? The floating storage and regasification unit - or FSRU - named Alexandroupolis, sailed from a Singapore anchorage in November 2023 and is now permanently moored 17 kilometres southwest of the port of Alexandroupolis. The FSRU is owned by Gastrade together with its shareholders Elmina Kopelouzou, Gaslog, DEPA Emporia, DESFA and Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria's Gas Transmission Operator). In addition to the floating LNG receiving and temporary storage and gasification plant, the project includes a subsea and onshore pipeline system through which the gas is imported into Greece, transported to the National Gas Transmission System. From there it goes to final consumers in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and further to Moldova and Ukraine in the east and Hungary and Slovakia in the west. "Greece is becoming an important gateway for energy in South East Europe for gas and electricity. We are a really reliable gateway for many forms of energy and we are going to contribute to the supply and carbonisation of Greece and neighbouring countries," DESFA CEO Maria Rita Galli told Euronews in September 2024. "In general, South-Eastern Europe has remained one of the regions most dependent on Russian gas. So a new infrastructure that allows more LNG from different countries of the world to come to this market increases the resilience of Europe in general and reduces the dependence on one source of gas."
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Agency Warns Controversial Bill Could Delay Disaster Response
As the cleanup begins in flood-hit Tasman, fresh documents reveal a stark warning from Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) that the Regulatory Standards Bill could hinder the country's ability to respond to climate-related disasters. In a briefing obtained by Greenpeace under the Official Information Act, LINZ - the agency responsible for managing Crown land - warned that the Bill may "limit the ability to respond quickly to emerging issues (for example, climate-related or natural disaster issues)." Greenpeace has called the advice "yet another nail in the coffin for the doomed Bill". "As families, businesses and farmers in Tasman begin the difficult cleanup after yet another devastating flood, it's shocking to learn that officials are warning this Bill could make it harder to respond to exactly these kinds of disasters," says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop. LINZ also flagged concerns about the Bill's impact on critical infrastructure and public works, warning "an overly rigid emphasis on property interests may conflict with broader regulatory objectives, including the Government's ability to acquire land for infrastructure or public good projects." This was a concern echoed by the Treasury in its advice on the Bill. "The Regulatory Standards Bill is dangerous. It would tie the Government up in new red tape at the very moment when urgent climate action and disaster preparation are needed most," says Toop "The advice is clear. This Bill would make it harder to build the infrastructure we urgently need to decarbonise the economy and prepare for climate disasters - things like flood protection, improved communication links, and renewable energy." LINZ further flagged that the legislation could create new legal barriers to returning land to iwi under the Treaty settlement process, citing concerns raised by the Waitangi Tribunal. "These new warnings are yet another nail in the coffin for this doomed Bill. It has attracted blistering criticism from the United Nations, legal experts, health professionals, Māori leaders, environmental groups, and the public service itself." "The Labour and Green parties have committed to repealing the Bill. It simply has no future. The Prime Minister should withdraw National's support immediately before further time and money is wasted on yet another one of David Seymour's disastrously unpopular policy ideas." This latest revelation comes as news broke this morning that MBIE had warned the Bill could be much more expensive than previously expected and have a negative impact on economic growth, and just days after news broke that the United Nations has issued a letter to the Government criticising the Bill.
The Spinoff
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Event noticeboard: Sugar, rubber gloves and shocked bananas
The Spinoff's top picks of events from around the motu. I was tempted, in a moment of despair, to title this week's noticeboard as 'Rain, rain and more rain' or perhaps 'Rain, flooding and more rain'. Thankfully it's not flooded here, but I was triggered looking at my weather app and seeing only clouds and rain till, you guessed it, Monday, that day I'm due to be back inside. Already I know what my partner will say when I go home and whine. 'You're not made of sugar!' So out I will go, dressed as a little squire with a strangely modern raincoat, to Princess Chelsea's annual midwinter ball (sold out sorry!). I guess once you make it past the falling drops, there are a few good things about this time of year. Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland Central 8pm Thursday to Saturday, July 17-19 $17-$30 In 2019 Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan duct-taped a single banana to a wall at Art Basel, a prestigious international art fair. That banana, titled 'Comedian' by Cattelan, set the art world and the internet ablaze partly in incredulity and partly in fury. Was it genius or not art at all? Later, Cattelan ate the banana onstage, saying its value (US$6.2 million according to one sale) was in the concept not the banana itself. Last year Auckland playwrights asked the question – what if the banana woke up? They created a physical-theatre-clown-fruit-mash-up which reviewers have called ' relentlessly funny ' and 'a superb clowning commentary'. How to Art has already had seasons in Auckland and Wellington, and now the bananas are headed to Melbourne. They're making a special re-appearance in Auckland to raise some funds. The show has wonderful handmade costumes and props (yes banana suits, but also other big plushy fruit) which they're showing off in a free touch tour before the show on Saturday at 7pm. Whangārei ONEONESIX, 116a Bank Street, Whangārei 2pm & 6pm Sunday, July 20 7pm Monday, July 21 7pm Tuesday, July 22 Gold coin The culmination of months of creative exploration by over 20 rangatahi taking part in NYT's Emerging Directors Programme, this event invites you into the room as they test ideas, take risks, and develop their voices. Tāmaki Makaurau Halsey St Wharf, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday, July 19 & 20 Free Have a wander through Greenpeace's (third) Rainbow Warrior. Note: The ship is not wheelchair accessible – there are steep steps and a narrow gangway. Hamilton Workshop: Lost Wax Ring Making Arts for Health, 2 Seddon Road, Frankton, Hamilton 4pm Sunday, July 20 $285 (includes materials) Design and sculpt a ring using the ancient lost wax technique. After the workshop, it will be cast in silver and posted to you. Waipukurau Te Whanganui-a-Tara Hear two scholars and artists talk about the impact of sugar, colonisation and global trade in the Pacific, and see the exhibition exploring these themes. Blenheim Artworks created by Te Ohu Weka, a collaborative art group based in Te Tauihu and working from Onetahua Marae. Ōtautahi Little Andromeda Theatre, Level 1, 134 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch 7pm Friday & Saturday, July 18 & 19 $15-$20 'Join the hilarious and retro-sexy Gladys and Beryl as they take a sweep down memory lane, reminiscing on their successful and oh-so extravagant lives.' Lyttelton From my understanding, these artists take everyday sounds like bangs, taps, squeaks and wheeze and make them beautiful and buzzy. Dunningham Suite, Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place, Dunedin 5:30pm Friday, July 18 $20 (proceeds towards the residency programme) Robert Lord would have turned 80 this year – and so there's a party at his cottage. There will be readings, drinks and nibbles. Gore Eastern Southland Gallery, 61 Irk Street, Gore 3pm Saturday & Sunday, July 19 & 20 10.30am Tuesday, July 22 Free entry See inside the messy studio and fascinating process of an acclaimed Kiwi painter. Invercargill Theatre: Matilda the Musical 7:30pm Wednesday – Friday, July 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 4pm Saturday, July 19, 26 2pm Sunday, July 20 $40-85 A multi-award winning show based on the beloved Roald Dahl book with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and quick wit.
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Alliance Renews Call For Bottom Trawling Ban In Hauraki Gulf
Press Release – Greenpeace Members of the Hauraki Gulf Alliance have deployed a massive 'Ban Bottom Trawling' banner on the deck of the Rainbow Warrior, demanding an end to destructive bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The Alliance, which includes Forest & Bird, LegaSea and Greenpeace, has a long-running campaign to remove trawling from Hauraki Gulf and the renewed call comes as bottom trawling faces increased public scrutiny. Speaking from the Rainbow Warrior, in the Gulf, 'Heal the Hauraki' documentary producer Mandy Kupenga says: 'For too long, the practice of bottom trawling has bulldozed the rich and fragile ecosystems beneath the surface of the Hauraki Gulf. Entire ocean communities have been devastated. What happens beneath the waves doesn't stay there-when we lose biodiversity in the sea, we lose part of what sustains life on land as well. 'We cannot continue turning a blind eye. It's time to restore the mauri-the life force-of the Gulf, and honour our responsibility to future generations. Ending bottom trawling in and around the Hauraki Gulf isn't just a conservation decision. It's a moral one.' Gulf advocate Shaun Lee says the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries 'needs to listen to 97.2% of 8,909 submitters who have asked for a full ban on bottom impact fishing in the Gulf'. LegaSea spokesperson Benn Winlove says he is disappointed the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries is willing to ignore such strong public sentiment against bottom trawling. 'Public opposition to environmental destruction is growing and it's incredible that a Minister in charge of ensuring sustainability of fish populations and their habitat is willing to let bottom trawling continue in the Gulf, let alone in the Marine Park.' Bianca Ranson, campaigner from Forest & Bird, says: '97% of submitters have called for a complete ban of bottom impact fishing in the Hauraki Gulf yet the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, mocks Tīkapa Moana calling it 'just a mud-stained bottom'. That is an insult to every living thing that depends on this ocean and to future generations who deserve thriving ecosystems abundant with life. Trawling rips up the seafloor turning vibrant thriving ecosystems into lifeless mud. Every year, massive weighted nets are dragged across the seafloor of Tīkapa Moana, killing all life in its path, destroying nurseries for fish, and choking the seabed in suffocating plumes of sedimentation. It's time to end bottom trawling.' Bottom trawling is a fishing method that involves dragging heavy nets over the seafloor to catch fish, stirring up sediment, releasing carbon and indiscriminately killing marine life. This is not the first time the massive banner has been used. Hundreds of people turned out to a flotilla in Auckland in 2023 to call for an end to trawling in the Gulf, while that same year a petition calling for a ban signed by nearly 37,000 people was handed into parliament.
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
David Seymour lashes officials after LINZ becomes latest agency raising concerns about his Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Another government agency is warning the costs to comply with the Regulatory Standards Bill could be "significant", and hinder the government's ability to acquire land for infrastructure projects and public works. Documents show Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) officials issued the warning to the Ministry of Regulation in March after it asked for feedback. Regulation Minister David Seymour has hit back at the criticisms, blasting officials for not prioritising New Zealanders' rights, saying it's proof the bill is needed. Earlier, RNZ revealed Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment officials raised fears the bill could be much more expensive than previous estimates , and could lead to business uncertainty, slowing economic growth. LINZ, which has a key role in managing Crown land, land title systems and regulatory frameworks that govern land use and access, said the "overly rigid emphasis" on property interests could affect the government's ability to acquire land for infrastructure or public good projects. It also worried it would create "legal barriers for returning land to iwi" under Treaty of Waitangi settlements, according to feedback obtained by environmental activist group Greenpeace under the Official Information Act. "While strong property rights are important, an overly rigid emphasis on property rights may conflict with broader regulatory objectives, including the Government's ability to acquire land for infrastructure or public good projects," officials wrote. "The potential cost and resource implications to comply with the new requirements could be significant, depending on the guidance issued by the Minister," it told the ministry. LINZ also warned the bill could limit the ability to respond quickly to emergencies, such as natural or climate-related disasters. The agency declined to be interviewed or answer further questions about the concerns it raised. It did not give any details about the extra costs it might face. Regulation Minister David Seymour said LINZ's comments were "worrying." "LINZ do important work, including administering the Public Works Act, which they well know already requires compensation for taking people's land. That makes their comments surprising, and worrying," Seymour said in a statement to RNZ. "At their heart, they see New Zealanders' rights as an inconvenience, when they are supposed to be public servants. "The comments they have made further prove the need for the Regulatory Standards Bill. Public Servants should not see respecting people's rights as an inconvenience, it is one of their duties." Seymour said ministers could "ignore the bill" in a crisis or emergency situation, while Treaty Settlement Bills were also exempt from consideration under the bill. Officials criticisms of the bill were proof it was needed, he said. "One thing that is becoming clear from some government departments' criticisms of the bill is that they don't take New Zealanders' rights seriously, seeming to see them as a nuisance that stops them making rules and going home early. Public servant attitudes to our basic rights, as shown in some of their comments, are another good reason why we need the Regulatory Standards Bill." Greenpeace said LINZ's comments were a "stark warning", especially as flood-hit Tasman faces a huge clean up after three storm events in recent weeks. Infrastructure was urgently needed to prepare for, and recover from climate disasters, said spokesperson Gen Toop. "Things like flood protection, transport and communication links, and renewable energy," she said. "The Regulatory Standards Bill is dangerous. It would tie the Government's hands at the very moment when urgent climate action and disaster preparation are needed most. "This new warning is yet another nail in the coffin for this doomed bill. It has attracted blistering criticism from the United Nations, legal experts, health professionals, Māori leaders, environmental groups, and the public service itself," said Toop. Several government agencies have sounded warnings about the bill, including the Treasury which predicted the it could "adversely impact the cost and speed of government infrastructure projects and public works in the future." According to the Ministry for Regulation, the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) seeks to "establish a benchmark for good legislation" by introducing a set of principles of "responsible regulation". Essentially, the bill creates a set of rules that all lawmakers must consider in regulation design. The law would also set up a Regulatory Standards Board, which would respond to concerns raised around the consistency of regulation. Appointed by the Regulation Minister, the board would be able to make non-binding recommendations, much like the Waitangi Tribunal. The bill is currently with the finance and expenditure committee, which is expected to report back in November. If it passed into law, it would likely take effect at the start of next year.
