Dunedin’s zerocarbon proposal ‘unrealistic’

I READ with amusement a proposal to form a carbon pact in Dunedin, involving all leading establishments in the city (ODT, 25.9.20). To me, it appears like a latenight kitchen table proposal to beef up the flagging support for the Green Party which is at the cusp of having to sit on their hands after the upcoming election. I can reasonably assume this plan has not been discussed with the proposed members of the alliance.

The Labour Party, under its present superb leadership, can rightfully claim the credits for most of the present and future green agenda for the country. This zerocarbon proposal to be discussed at the upcoming city council meeting is just a political advertisement than any realistic target. As an example, does anyone believe that all transport could be changed into zero carbon mode in under 10 years in Dunedin?

Mathew Zacharias

Mosgiel

THE Zero Carbon Act has been estimated to cost 1632% of GDP annually, or $12,800 per person/year. In addition, the methane tax will end all livestock farming in New Zealand as the proposed tax is greater than the net income.

Of the CO2 that goes into the air each year, humans are responsible for about 4% and New Zealand contributes about 0.8% of that. So if NZ was carbon neutral tomorrow, the world would not notice. Without China and India on board, action in NZ will have no effect whatsoever.

It should be noted that during the second quarter of 2020 when the world was in lockdown, human CO2 dropped by 17%, but at the end of June CO2 was measured at its highest in modern times, 417 ppm. Nature did not take any notice of the decline in human CO2.

If the world kept its Paris Agreement promises the temperature drop by 2100 would be about 0.17degC. NZ’s contribution to that would be 0.00014degC.

Unmeasurable.

When the cost is humongous and the benefit negligible one has to question the sanity of those pushing the agenda. That money would be far better spent on health or education.

Peter Foster

Waikouaiti

Covid dogs

DOGS are being used at Finland's Helsinki Airport to detect Covid19 in sweat samples from arriving passengers (New York Times, 23,9,20).

Even asymptomatic infections have been detected. If the Finns can train covid sniffer dogs, why not us? So much for New Zealand's reputed lowtech No 8 wire innovation prowess!

Where are the innovators among Kiwi handwringing, skyisfalling whingers?

Colin Aldridge

Macandrew Bay ..................................

BIBLE READING: Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. Isaiah 45.8.