“An international start-up has been pushing for regulation changes to allow it to carry out controversial marine carbon storage in New Zealand waters.”
“Start-up asked for regulation changes to allow controversial marine carbon storage”.
“The company says it needs to be able to carry out ocean research to build its evidence base – but wants to be able to generate carbon credits, in order to fund its work.”
James Shaw was the corporate stooge instrumental in setting up the “Carbon credits” scam.
“It intends to sell carbon credits for the extra carbon it manages to store, and has already signed an agreement with aviation services provider SkiesFifty to sequester 200,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2029.”
“Documents released to RNZ under the Official Information Act show that in meetings with the Ministry for the Environment last year, Gigablue proposed changes to marine regulations that would allow it to go ahead” “without consents.
Did the former Climate Change Minister try to pressure the Ministry for the Environment to circumvent the notified consent process?
“The company was assisted in its lobbying by former climate change minister James Shaw!”
So, Shaw’s lobbying was contemporaneous with Gigablue wanting to circumvent or bypass the consent process.
“However, by 2025 it was looking for a more permissive way to conduct its activities, with an eye to selling carbon credits to businesses wanting to offset their emissions – known as the voluntary carbon market.”
“As well as the contract with SkiesFifty, it recently raised US$20 million (NZ$35m) in venture capital.”
What role did Shaw’s lobbying play in raising $20million US dollars?
“In a follow-up letter, Gigablue co-founder and chief technology officer Sapir Markus-Alford said the current regulations were “a hindrance” to marine carbon removal, because it was so new that it was not recognised in New Zealand’s system.”
My first question is how long has Shaw and Sapir Markus-Alford being communicating generally and specifically were they in contact when he was still in Parliament, pedaling his carbon credits scam?
“In early 2023, the Guardian published an article suggesting that more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets are worthless. These credits are essentially a promise to protect forests and can be bought as a way to “offset” emissions elsewhere.”
“Verra, the largest certifier of these offset credits, said the claims were “absolutely incorrect” but the story still shook confidence in the billion-dollar market. Soon after, Verra’s CEO stood down.”
‘Worthless’: Scientists Warn Carbon Offsets Are a Dangerous Illusion
“Morrison has appointed James Shaw as an Operating Partner to its growing team, following his distinguished political career in New Zealand. His Morrison role will be focused on driving the next generation of investment opportunities that support global decarbonisation.”
“Prior to joining Morrison, James served in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2014 to 2024 and as Climate Change Minister in Jacinda Ardern’s government from 2017 to 2023. The architect of New Zealand’s net-zero framework, he brokered bi-partisan support for the Zero Carbon Act, reforms of the NZ Emission Trading Scheme, and the world’s first Climate Related Financial Disclosures regime, and established New Zealand Green Investment Finance Ltd.”
James Shaw joins Morrison as Operating Partner
I'm an anti-imperialist, environmental activist and blue ocean sailor, who is passionate about the earth and all it's inhabitants without favour. Brace for imminent impact as we bare witness to the non-linear unraveling of the biosphere and habitability disappearing for most if not all complex life on the only habitable planet we know of. To quote President Niinistö in North Russia: ‘If We Lose the Arctic, We Lose the World’. Folks we have lost the Arctic.
Kevin Hester 
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