Nick Smith7 May,
2010 - Climate Change Minister Nick Smith
today launched two new publications providing
practical guidance for local government
on planning for the impacts of climate change
on flooding: Tools for estimating the effects
of climate change on flood flow and Preparing
for Future Flooding.
"The recent events
in Southland are a timely reminder of the
damage caused by flooding and it is expected
that climate change will only increase the
likelihood of these extreme events",
said Dr Smith.
"The two publications
provide good practice information and guidance
to help local authorities incorporate climate
change impacts into flood risk management
planning."
The guidelines are the
third in the series for local government
on preparing for the impacts of climate
change in their environmental decision making.
"This Government
is committed to assisting councils with
environmental management and giving them
the practical tools and guidance to help
them with their responsibilities,"
said Dr Smith.
Tools for estimating
the effects of climate change on flood flow
is available at:
www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/climate-change-effects-on-flood-flow/index.html
Preparing for Future
Flooding is available in hardcopy by emailing
publications@mfe.govt.nz and www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/preparing-for-future-flooding-guide-for-local-govt/index.html
+ More
Waste reduction schemes
receive accreditation
Nick Smith19 May, 2010
- Environment Minister Nick Smith today
announced the Government's accreditation
of two new product stewardship schemes for
recycling and reducing harm from used farm
plastics and glass packaging.
"Product stewardship
schemes are an excellent way of getting
all parties involved in the production and
distribution of a product to take responsibility
for its environmental impact at the end
of its life," Dr Smith said.
The Plasback farm plastic
recycling scheme is a voluntary scheme for
the collection of farm plastic waste for
recycling or reuse.
"We know that farm
plastics are often disposed of in ways harmful
to the environment such as burying or burning.
The Plasback scheme instead provides a cost
effective and environmentally friendly alternative
and will see farm plastics collected and
recycled into new products such as piping
or bins," Dr Smith said.
The Glass Packaging
Forum, which comprises more than 100 companies
that produce or import, fill or sell glass
containers in NZ, has developed a voluntary
scheme for reducing the amount of glass
packaging sent to landfill.
"Recovered glass
can either be used to make new glass containers
or for alternative uses such as vineyard
mulch and roading aggregate. This means
a reduction in waste sent to landfill as
well as the amount of energy and carbon
emissions from the production of new glass
containers," Dr Smith said.
"Under the Waste
Minimisation Act, as Minister for the Environment,
I have the ability to accredit product stewardship
schemes who meet the criteria for reducing
waste and environmental harm. I would encourage
other industries to recognise the economic
and environmental benefits of product stewardship
and get accredited."
