Tony Watkins

The Great Carbon Con Trick

Greatest con of all time

If we want to pass on to our children a healthy world fit to live in we need to recognise that carbon trading will do little more than make a few global consumers very wealthy, suggests Tony Watkins.

Overview

Apricale

By mid 2007 when the first carbon credits began trading on TradeMe it was clear there were going to be problems. Meridian was selling credits representing a theoretical reduction in potential carbon emissions rather than any actual reduction in carbon emissions. Nothing changed and there was money to be made.

Key carbon-neutral concepts

Dolce Aqua

When key carbon-neutral concepts are clearly understood it becomes much easier to see what action needs to be taken.

Both villan and saviour

Apricale

The built environment offers the greatest opportunities to reduce New Zealand's carbon footprint.

A 2020 carbon-neutral vision

Protecting the grape vine

What will the built environment be like in 2020?

Environmental Movement Journey

Anyone wishing to develop "carbon-neutral" built-environment strategies needs to understand a little of the recent history of the modern environmental movement.

Kiwis as world leaders

My Twingo

Anyone wishing to develop "carbon-neutral" built-environment strategies for New Zealand also needs to understand a little of recent architectural debate, and the part played by New Zealand architects in that debate.

Carbon-neutral New Zealand

Bosphorous houses

The built environment itself is slow to change, but attitudes to it have gone through a revolution. Architect Tony Watkins looks back from a 2020 viewpoint on the previous 13 years and considers the impact Helen Clark's commitment to a carbon-neutral New Zealand has had on the built environment. Like David Lange he wonders if, with the pace having been so relentless, we should all pause for a cup of tea.

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Tony Watkins

~ Vernacular Design