If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the news story. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the news story.
The vocabulary list is now first, so that you can check the meanings of the words before you listen.
Vocabulary
criticise – to say that you think something is bad, or to say what you do not like or think is wrong about something
negotiator – someone who negotiates something
indigenous – relating to people who have lived a long time in a country, before other people arrived
atmosphere – the mixture of gases around the Earth
dairy – relating to milk and milk products
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
rule out – to decide that something is not possible or suitable
forestry – the science or industry of growing or managing forests
offshore – existing in the sea, not far from the land
ban – to say that something must not be done
overturn – to change a decision so that it becomes the opposite
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Who is going to the COP30 meeting this week?
- What is COP30, who attends, and why?
- How much more powerful than CO2 is methane?
- How could New Zealand reduce its methane emissions?
- Why would this be a problem for New Zealand?
- What was the previous Government’s target for reducing methane emissions?
- In October, what target did the Government announce?
- What has the Government ruled out?
- What has the Government promised to spend $200 million to do?
- What does the Government argue?
- What do opposition parties and climate experts argue?
News story
New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister, Simon Watts, is going to the COP30 meeting in Belém, Brazil, this week. The Government says it is committed to reducing emissions, but some experts have criticised recent changes in some government policies.
COP30 is the 30th United Nations Climate Change Summit, where world leaders, negotiators, business leaders, scientists, young people, and indigenous peoples from nearly every country meet to agree on actions to address the climate crisis. COP stands for Conference of the Parties, because the countries are parties to international agreements on climate change.
One of the greenhouse gases that contributes to climate change is methane. It doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), but it is around 80 times more powerful over 20 years. In New Zealand, most methane emissions come from cows. The easiest way to reduce these emissions would be to reduce the number of cows, but that would lower dairy production. Because New Zealand exports a lot of dairy products, having fewer cows would impact on farmers’ profits and on the country’s economy.
The previous Labour Government set a target for reducing methane emissions of 24-47 percent by 2050. Although New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission (which is independent of the government) recommended raising the target to 35-47%, in October the Government announced a lower target of 14-24 percent. Climate scientists have criticised this. They say that it is important to significantly reduce emissions and that New Zealand is risking its reputation by going to the COP meeting with a weaker target.
The Government has also ruled out a tax on methane emissions from agriculture. Other sectors such as the steel industry and forestry have to measure their greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Emissions Trading Scheme. However, agriculture is not part of the Scheme.
Another change in government policy is offshore oil and gas exploration. In 2018 the Government banned new exploration but in August the current Government overturned the ban. It also promised $200 million to co-invest in new gas fields. Furthermore, in June it decided to quit the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, a group of countries working to move away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy. The Government argues that investing in oil and gas is needed to support the economy, but opposition parties and climate experts argue that New Zealand needs to do more to take action against climate change.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. Who is going to the COP30 meeting this week?
New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister
b. What is COP30, who attends, and why?
The 30th United Nations Climate Change Summit; world leaders, negotiators, business leaders, scientists, young people, and indigenous peoples from nearly every country; to agree on actions to address the climate crisis
c. How much more powerful than CO2 is methane?
Around 80 times more powerful over 20 years
d. How could New Zealand reduce its methane emissions?
Reduce the number of cows
e. Why would this be a problem for New Zealand?
New Zealand exports a lot of dairy products; having fewer cows would impact on farmers’ profits and on the country’s economy.
f. What was the previous Government’s target for reducing methane emissions?
A 24-47 percent reduction by 2050
g. In October, what target did the Government announce?
14-24 percent
h. What has the Government ruled out?
A tax on methane emissions from agriculture
i. What has the Government promised to spend $200 million to do?
To co-invest in new gas fields
j. What does the Government argue?
Investing in oil and gas is needed to support the economy
k. What do opposition parties and climate experts argue?
New Zealand needs to do more to take action against climate change.