ruminating on nz methane/carbon neutral

[heidi]

Sitting here in our canadian summer wishing desperately we were in nz winter

(it is even raining here (which it never normally does) and its COOL which it never is at this time of year)

it all makes me even more home-sick for nz... (OH is interviewing and applying for jobs but nothing yet)

then on cbc radio came nz voices and three good long interviews! First off was a scientist explaining about all the methane the dairy industry (and sheep to a lesser extent, but all ruminants really) is producing and the green house gas it is causing. Apparently pm Clark wants to make nz a 'carbon neutral' country so this scientist was explaining ways they are thinking of reducing the gaseous nature of ruminants!

Next up was the head of the farmers assoc or some such, a Mr Peterson from Hamilton, and he spoke very well about how farmers in nz feel about paying for the excess methane their animals contribute and how they will have to purchase carbon credits (or plant trees etc) to off-set the load (of gas from their animals!). He talked about the potential risks/gains involved if science does come up with a unique way to lessen the methane producing capacity of ruminants (great for nz if they do because of intellectual propery rights etc but if not..)

Lastly the head of greenpeace nz was interviewed and he explained that nz is in the top ten of the worst offenders to the environment (of the developed world) and the government's idea of 'carbon neutral' doesn't really mean what it sounds like as really that won't/can't be the case and it just means everyone in nz will be paying alot more to buy carbon credits (not just to off-set the animal methane but the long distance exporting carbon costs etc etc .... He also went into how the heavy fertilizer usage is also causing greenhouse gases etc and that in trials where herds were lessened, chemical ferts were not used, land allowed to rest etc that productivity went way up and end product was far superior (so there was a tiny bit of hope)

anyway all this to say it sounds like exciting times are ahead for nz one way or t'other !
and it was awfully nice to have kiwi voices inside my house for a wee while with the rain pattering outside

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by heidi

(it is even raining here (which it never normally does) and its COOL which it never is at this time of year)

We just heard from family in Scotland where, apparently, it's been very wet and freezing cold to the extent that the central heating went back on again - in June!!

I recently read about an inoculation to counteract the cow/methane problem . Seems like they're hot on the case.

It's good to be able to immerse yourself in a bit of New Zealand now and again, even if it comes via the airwaves.

[heidi]

thanks for the link, mb
i find the subject fascinating
as long as they don't start to tax
human 'gas' emissions too -lol-