Letters: Can cutting our emissions really change the climate?
On climate consternation
Another letter in the Herald yesterday telling us we must do something about global warming because it’s real, and it is. Although continuation of the current trend may not be as dramatic as many claim.
But here’s the thing, there’s nothing we can cut in New Zealand to any effect.
Recognising first that New Zealand agriculture feeds the equivalent of 25 million people, making us the most efficient producers on earth, reducing agriculture to cut our emissions would cause worldwide emissions to increase, so that’s no use.
That leaves emissions from fossil fuels as a target but we only generate about 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year from these.
Consequently, even cutting our usage to zero would affect world temperatures by seven millionths of one degree, an unmeasurable amount. Ergo, New Zealand cannot affect global warming by cutting back on stuff. We should focus instead on increasing our agricultural output to improve the world’s emissions levels. A win-win for New Zealand and for the planet.
John Denton, Napier.
Students and scripts
The open letter to the Minister of Education (NZ Herald, April 24) is signed by 88 Aotearoa-wide educators who represent all sectors from early childhood to tertiary education.
They are highly skilled, committed and knowledgeable – and we need to thank and congratulate them for their willingness to put learning above rhetoric.
The speed of change being “forced” by the Minister of Education is damaging, very dangerous and likely to minimise the quality of education for today’s and tomorrow’s learners.
Why does the minister have such a burning passion to dump so many successful approaches, such as Reading Recovery, resource teachers of literacy, resource teachers of learning and behaviour?
Why is she so determined to replace these with untried scripts that are likely to result in teachers losing their knowledge of effective pedagogy, their knowledge of their students’ individual strengths, needs and interests, and the rich variety of resources beyond the scripts?
Perhaps the minister wants future citizens who don’t think critically, creatively and with social responsibility?
Every parent in New Zealand should stand up and say, “Our children and our teachers deserve better!”
Heather Bell, Hauraki.
A matter of minutes
About 220 owners are to lose their properties and 410 others will lose part of their properties so workers and travellers can save time going to and from Auckland Airport.
Is it really worth spending millions, if not billions of dollars, and taking hundreds of homes and business properties to save perhaps up to 15 minutes travelling to and from the airport?
I am not convinced many people are concerned about a few minutes lost at such a cost and inconvenience to property owners and taxpayers.
Bob Wichman, Botany.
Signal for security
The attempted assassination of another American President, regardless of why, is a reminder to our own security services that they need to remain vigilant at all times.
We are not America but there are always those with extreme views whose minds become set on one goal regardless of the outcome.
Several of our Prime Ministers have had threats against their lives, with an unprecedented surge against [Dame] Jacinda Ardern when over 100 were recorded.
That, and the Christchurch massacre still fresh in our minds, should remind us that we have a duty to report to the authorities those with extremist views.
Security services need to be forewarned so that they are forearmed.
Reg Dempster, Albany.
Soper’s view
It’s evident that Jacinda Ardern elicits strong reactions, and love or loathe her, Barry Soper’s reaction to her in his book proves that premise, (NZ Herald, April 25).
Clearly not part of the Jacinda fan club, Soper’s assessment of the former Prime Minister as an “imposter” belies his skill as an investigative journalist, as some of his comments are petty and one-dimensional.
Certainly, some of her decisions during the Covid pandemic were anything but kind, but the epidemic was a global phenomenon and the number of deaths worldwide required stringent measures to keep New Zealanders safe.
Soper’s opinions of other former PMs are far kinder, even regarding the increasingly unhinged [Robert] Muldoon who, mercifully for New Zealand, lost the 1984 election.
Apart from any sexist comments in reference to a pregnant Prime Minister, (which I, and I’m sure, many other women will need to breathe through), his most pejorative judgment was that Jacinda “meant well”.
What a very condescending description by a journalist of Soper’s calibre to describe a leader who brought this country through a very critical and dark time. He should know better.
Mary Hearn, Glendowie.
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