The role of research in New Zealand

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The role of research in New Zealands sustainable
future

• David Parker
• Energy and Climate Change Minister

June 2008
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Why shouldnt New Zealand aim to be the first
country which is truly sustainable? Not by
sacrificing our living standards, but by being
smart and determined. - Prime Minister Helen
Clark
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Climate change will change our natural environment

• Increased frequency of severe climatic events
  like droughts, floods, and storms
• Wetter in west, drier in east
• Changed growing seasons/regions
• Biosecurity risks

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NZs projected deficit has reduced dramatically
for the 1st Kyoto Commitment Period
Forest sinks
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(No Transcript)
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Role of research and education

• Universities contribute
• Research on behavioural and technological issues
• Scientific understanding and analysis of our
  energy resource base, climactic data, adaptation
  and mitigation issues
• Analysis and presentation of views to inform
  public debates and policy development

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Funding for sustainable development research

• Budget 2008 32.5m over 4 years
• 10 m for renewable energy research
• 18.5m for transformation Research, Science and
  Technology
• Includes 4m for the Low Carbon Energy
  Technologies (LCET) Fund
• 4m for deep geothermal energy research

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Growth areas

• Renewable energy
• Energy efficiency
• Agricultural mitigation

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90 percent renewable electricity by 2025
New Build Generation Costs
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Geothermal

• NZ already a world leader in geothermal
  development
• 8 of electricity from shallow geothermal
• Untapped deep geothermal resource

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Wind energy

• Small proportion in New Zealand at present, but
  big potential
• Integration into grid

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Wave and tidal

• Marine Energy Deployment Fund 8m over four
  years
• First award made to Crest Energy for 1.85m

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Biofuels

• Biofuel Bill will mean sales of biofuels are
  mandatory
• Sustainability standard being developed
• Second generation biofuels

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Energy efficiency
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Electric vehicles

• NZ to be world leaders in using electric vehicles
• Powered by renewables
• Smart grid needed to balance load

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Designline hybrid electric bus
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Building design

• Building Code changes mean better insulation and
  efficiency standards
• The future lies in smarter design to reduce
  energy use

Conservation House
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Recycling/Waste recovery

• Reduce emissions by re-using and recycling
• Engineering, design, and science all play a part

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Agricultural mitigation

• NZ to continue as a world leader in agricultural
  emissions reduction research
• NZ to lead the world in reducing agricultural
  emissions
• Livestock Emissions and Abatement Research Network

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Biggest ever boost to primary sector RD

• 700 million over 10-15 years
• Four focus areas
• Sustainable pastoral systems including emission
  reductions
• Research and education capability
• Food innovation clusters
• Internationalisation

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Summary

• Climate change means opportunity as well as risk
• Sustainability is part of the governments
  economic transformation agenda
• Innovation is key to making the most of change