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

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