Wise Response has queried Straterra members about allowing a presentation from a credible climate scientist at the forthcoming Straterra Minerals Conference in Dunedin.
Mayor Dave Cull makes some fair points defending Council’s involvement in Straterra’s Minerals Conference, including the opportunity to spell out DCC opposition to off-shore oil and gas drilling, the city’s divestment and its zero carbon goal by 2050 (ODT 22 April). He also mentions that “delegates and speakers include representatives from … environmental groups”.
However, only 2 of the 58 speakers are likely to take a primarily environmental perspective – Kevin Hague, CEO of Forest and Bird and Dave Frame – Professor of Climate Change at Victoria University, but both are only involved in “debates” and are not presenting separate papers.
The key dilemma of our time is a way of life entirely dependant on a minerals sector which itself has the greatest impact on climate warming, but also a pecuniary stake in continuing to mine. Some minerals will always be needed, but if we are to avoid climate catastrophe, complying with emission limits will dictate what mining is permissible. Thus, the recognition this conference affords climate change is totally disproportionate to our emergency and the plea from our children for real action.
Straterra declined our appeal to include a presentation from a credible climate scientist. In his letter to the ODT (25.4.19) CEO, Chris Baker insists the environmental standards for mining are rigorous, however none directly address climate change. Likewise, Cameron Madgwick, CEO, Petroleum Exploration and
Production of NZ (ODT 25.4.19) believes we should be delighted if we find more gas as an alternative to oil, when our total GHG emissions are already in severe overshoot.
Such views underscore why a common and true understanding of climate science
and required emission reduction pathways is essential for effective policy and should therefore be central to this Minerals Conference.
Yours sincerely,
Dugald MacTavish
Secretary, Wise Response Society Inc
Members of Straterra
Aggregate and Quarry Association www.aqa.org.nz mailto:wayne@aqa.org.nz
Anderson Lloyd www.andersonlloyd.co.nz lawyers@al.nz
Bathurst Resources www.bathurstresources.com wellington@bathurst.co.nz
Beca www.beca.com
Bell Gully www.bellgully.com
Bioresearches Group www.bioresearches.co.nz
Chatham Rock Phosphate www.rockphosphate.co.nz
Coal Association of NZ coal-association-of-nz
CRL Energy www.crl.co.nz
Deloitte www.deloitte.co.nz
Dowgold Consultants www.dowgold.com
EPIROC https://www.epiroc.com/en-nz
Field Technical Services
First Break Mining & Construction http://firstbreak.co.nz/
George Hooper
GHD New Zealand http://www.ghd.co.nz/new-zealand/
Greenwood Roche www.greenwoodroche.com
Greymouth Petroleum
Heavy Engineering Research Association www.hera.org.nz
Imerys Tableware NZ www.imerys.com
JGH Barristers http://www.jghbarrister.com/
Kenex Knowledge Systems www.kenex.co.nz
KPMG www.kpmg.co.nz
McCracken Consulting Ltd
MERMAN Ltd
Minerals West Coast www.mineralswestcoast.co.nz
Natural Resources Law Ltd https://www.naturalresourceslaw.co.nz/
New Talisman Gold www.newtalismangoldmines.co.nz
New Zealand Coal & Carbon www.nzcoal.co.nz
NZIMMR https://www.nzimmr.co.nz/
NIWA www.niwa.co.nz
NZ Resources www.nzresources.com
OceanaGold Corporation www.oceanagold.co.nz
Orica New Zealand www.orica.com
Pan NZ Resources
RedBull Powder Mining Services www.redbullpowder.co.nz
RSC Mining and Mineral Exploration www.rscmme.com
SGS NZ www.nz.sgs.com
Simpson Grierson www.simpsongrierson.com
Stevenson Mining www.stevenson.co.nz
Strategic Elements www.strategicelements.com.au
Tasman Mining
Taylor Coal www.taylorcoal.co.nz
Todd Corporation www.toddcorporation.com
TransDiesel Ltd www.transdiesel.com
Waikaia Gold
Whitesails Minerals Ltd