EnergyWatch The Journal of the Sustainable Energy Forum “Facilitating the use of energy for economic, environmental and social sustainability” ISSN 1173-5449 Issue 15, July/August 2000 Published by the Sustainable Energy Forum Inc, P O Box 11 152, Wellington E-mail
[email protected] Editor: Kerry Wood Change in the wind After nine months in power, this government’s only necessary or possible remedy for every real or sustainable energy outlook is moving from fingers- imagined ill. But it is quite another to mistake crossed to hopeful, encouraging and even very intentions, expectations and plans for ‘real’ action. encouraging. The EECA Act and the commitment Greater efforts are needed now if the government’s to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol were covered in our very laudable aims are to be met, such as: last issue. In this issue we cover: • A focus on the long-term. New technologies • Prime Minister Helen Clark’s speech to the such as windfarms or hypercars need the Redesigning Resources conference, setting out a spadework done now if they are to be effective wide-ranging agenda on page 2 by the start of the Kyoto commitment period. • Less positively, Molly Melhuish’s paper from the SEF conference, outlining the tangle of • A ‘think resources’ campaign aimed at both contracts, contacts and culture to be cut out individuals and businesses, focusing on before electricity reform is effective. See page 4 attitudes to the squandering of resources. • The recommendations of the Caygill Inquiry, • A close look at what can be salvaged from the presented with some comment by others—and wreck of the Maui Contract, and the balance of at least half a cheer—on page 8 payments blowout that must follow.