Risk Management Society
MEDIA RELEASE
June 25, 2007
Kyoto Two-step Shows Everyone Has To Adapt
New Zealand seems engaged in an endless two-step dance with the Kyoto Protocol and should start learning some new moves
to deal with climate change, says the New Zealand Society for Risk Management.
"It's time to get innovative about adapting to climate change. As one example, we could save on energy, significantly
reduce shipping costs and cut worldwide glass wastage by exporting our wine in containers," society deputy chair Chris
Peace said today.
"We could join the United Kingdom - at 1 billion litres a year, the world's largest importer of wine - in its GlassRite
campaign to re-use its mountain of unwanted empty green wine bottles."
Meanwhile the Government is claiming one step forward in the Kyoto dance and Statistics New Zealand is claiming one step
back, he said.
The Government claims its proposed measures to slash greenhouse emissions could lower New Zealand's bill under the Kyoto
Protocol by more than $250 million. But a Statistics New Zealand's study, Energy and the Economy 1997-2005, shows New
Zealand stepping backward from its goal of becoming carbon-neutral because energy consumption per person has increased
13 per cent.
"It all goes to demonstrate that every industry in New Zealand must move quickly to adapt innovatively to the various
issues presented by climate change," Mr Peace said.
Under the Glassrite Campaign, the United Kingdom has started importing wine in 24,000 litre containers. It is bottling
the imported wine there in an attempt to reduce an ever-growing mountain of green glass bottles that it cannot fully
recycle through its small wine industry or break down for use in its clear-glass bottle manufacture, construction
aggregate and filtration sand industries.
"Obviously, if we started exporting our wine in bulk containers, there are quality control issues that would have to be
addressed by the wine industry. But it is an example of adaptation to using processes that reduce energy use," Mr Peace
said.
The Risk Management Society is leading a discussion on adaptation to climate change at its seminar at Te Papa National
Museum on Tuesday 10 July. The seminar will hear from experts on climate, risk management, insurance, law,
telecommunications, farming, regional council and tourism.
"This seminar is about getting people to open their minds to the possibilities," Mr Peace said.
ENDS