ENVIRONMENT
August - September 2021 battery prices which may not be as feasible as people envision given key elements are resource constrained.” Toon Vandyck and Matthias Weitzel from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre add that if global demand for electric vehicles or batteries exceed production capacities, this could result in a period of higher prices. However, they point out that temporarily higher prices would also stimulate further investment and development in these technologies. A global scale-up of technologies (e.g. renewables like solar or wind, batteries, etc.) typically leads to declining costs from learning and economies of scale. “If global vehicle production was set to have a higher share of electric vehicles than expected, this would likely reduce the cost of batteries and hence electric vehicles, making the transition easier,” say Vandyck and Weitzel. Shulmeister also says a significant change to horticulture from dairying is envisioned.
76 infrastructurenews.co.nz
Farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ organised a series of nationwide protests on 16 July in response to the Government's new regulations “This is possible but in addition to all the likely challenges, it will depend on improved transport and/ or manufacturing so that product can get to market. “There is also a focus on reducing methane emissions per kg of milk solids and meat. This is definitely worthwhile. A pricing mechanism for agricultural emissions is critical but won’t be easy to achieve.” Shulmeister adds that the use of an enhanced ETS does appear to be a sensi-
ble way to drive behaviour for industry. Victoria University of Wellington Professor Justin Hodgkiss says it is important to understand that the pathways presented do not rely on any technologies that are not yet proven. “Future discoveries will undoubtedly accelerate our path to net zero carbon economy, or put more options on the table to get there at lower cost. “I am also struck by the analysis of future employ-
ment. The report acknowledges that employment in will be affected differently in various sectors and regions, with support and planning needed for a just transition. “It is exciting to see the report highlighting the future importance of new jobs in the circular economy, in a new hydrogen industry, in the renewable electricity sector, and even emissions measurement and management. Many of these future jobs will be filled by today’s students,” says Hodgkiss.
