HNS Special Report - The Climate Change Initiative - Part 1

[Emperor Tristar Majestica]

Hello and welcome to the Hungadada News Network. Today, in an HNS first, we'll be doing a Special Report on the Emperor's latest climate change policy. This Special Report is Part One. Part Two will be released shortly. Let's begin:

 

 

The Beginning

 

 

The Emperor officially announced his policies for climate change last year. Although Hungadada already had generous and stringent pollution laws, scientists from across the board said that the current level of protection was not enough. Therefore, the Emperor undertook a complete overhaul of the "Climate Law" and updated it with five new goals that the government should achieve. The refreshments to the "Climate Law" also added in some minor, but nonetheless important changes that would usher in a new era of climate and environment protection. "HNS The Climate Change Initiative" takes a look at all the changes that the Emperor made to the "Climate Law". 

 

 

 

The Green Transport Program

 

As envisioned 9 years ago, the Green Transport Program was created as a draft proposal to combat rising pollution levels in Port Royalty. Originally, it was meant to combat pollution by creating new programs to persuade people to use public transport instead of private vehicles. When it was put in place 5 years ago, it was met with criticism as critics complained that forcing people onto an already inefficient public transportation network would be detrimental to society. The program ended 3 years ago, and although it had moderate success, it forced the government to reorganize and modernize public transport. The program was re-implemented 2 years ago, this time with new improvements, such as requiring all public transportation to be hybrid. This improvement was widely successful and lowered pollution rates by 15%. 

 

The Green Transport Program was revamped when Emperor Tristar Majestica refreshed the "Climate Law". It included areas to improve. The Cabinet noted that it was now the only natural to work to make all public transport 100% electric. Of course, this was added in. More importantly, The Green Transport Program revamp took more attention towards the use of private vehicles, and trucks. Although it was not made clear what effect the revamp would have on private transportation, this would be made clear when the Emperor officially signed the law. 

 

The sale of petrol and diesel powered cars or trucks was made illegal on January 1st, 2013. Overnight, demand for electric and hybrid cars shot up, and car showrooms were in overdrive. The Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Transportation began building electric fuel stations, and areas for batteries to recharge. The Green Transport Program also forced all public transport companies to switch out their buses and taxies for electric versions. Overall, pollution rates are the lowest ever in Hungadadian history. Pollution statistics show that the level of pollution is slowly moving downward, thanks to the implementation of The Green Transport Program, and generous breaks on the purchase of an electric or hybrid car (10% off on any new electric or hybrid car. Terms and Conditions Apply). The program is seen as a major success, although car manufacturers are unhappy with the new rules.  

 

 

 

Plastics Tax 

 

The refreshment of the "Climate Law" also took aim at the plentiful use of plastic in the economy. Studies by CEI, the Ministry of the Interior, and the HCGS found that millions of fish, birds and other animals had died as a direct result of plastic bag digestion. Therefore, the new law made it mandatory to charge a $1 charge for any plastic bag being sold. Organic cloth bags were being sold as alternatives to plastic bags, and public information stands outside shopping malls helped inform the public about the dangers of plastic. General public reception was positive. Some members of the public were critical of the cost, and said that $1 was "too much". However, survey's from supermarkets across the country saw a 49% increase in the use of reusable plastic bags, which indicates that the tax is slowly but surely becoming effective. The HCGS reported a lower number of dead animals due to plastic bag digestion. 

 

Green Power Program 

The Emperor made it mandatory for the government to ensure that all power stations across Hungadada were either carbon-neutral or 100% emissions free. The goal of the Green Power Program was completed in July of last year. The last coal plant in Hungadada closed down on July 18th (it's now a museum). Hungadada is entirely powered by state-of-the-art nuclear power stations, which are entirely emissions free. However, the Emperor declared that stopping at nuclear power was not good enough, and provided $500m annually to a budget to be used for the research into nuclear fusion reactors.    

 

 

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That will end this Special Broadcast. Part Two will be released soon. Any questions/comments can be posted below. 

Edited February 12, 2017 by Emperor Tristar Majestica

[Fukuda Kazuma]

 

 

My name is Nagisa Shiota, reporting from The Gothenburg Post,

and I'd like to ask a few questions.

 

 

Firstly, what will happen to the workers in coal or oil power stations? With the

stations being forcefully shut down, will they receive any kind of compensation?

Since coal power stations operate drastically differently from nuclear power 

stations, have there any measures taken to ensure that those workers will

still be able to secure employment?

 

 

Secondly, what will happen to the old petrol and diesel powered cars now?

I assume that there is still a good proportion of them in operation. Will drivers

have to shell out more of their own money just to purchase an electric car?

Also, with the demand for electric cars skyrocketing, what is the possibility

of demand becoming greater than supply? Has anything being planned to 

combat this, if it were to ever become an issue?

 

Thank you.

Edited February 12, 2017 by Gilbert Beilschmidt

[Amaryllis]

~Aeron Xun, Reporter From the Imperial Times~

 

While always trying to find new ways of going green is a good thing, we also raise questions about the employees who could be affected by the shutdown of coal and oil power stations. Have they been given recommendations or other avenues concerning work such as possibly an offer of training to maybe work in nuclear facilities? We also have to ask about the public reaction to such changes. What's the percentage of those who are in favor of what's happening? 

[Emperor Tristar Majestica]

 

-SNIP-

 

 

 

~Aeron Xun, Reporter From the Imperial Times~

 

While always trying to find new ways of going green is a good thing, we also raise questions about the employees who could be affected by the shutdown of coal and oil power stations. Have they been given recommendations or other avenues concerning work such as possibly an offer of training to maybe work in nuclear facilities? We also have to ask about the public reaction to such changes. What's the percentage of those who are in favor of what's happening? 

 

 

Thank you for your questions. The Green Energy Program was committed to finding alternative jobs for those affected by the closures of coal plants. These coal plants were closed slowly and methodically, so as to ensure that every coal worker had a job before the next plant was closed. About 60% of the workers who were affected by the closures agreed to undergo a retraining program to serve as workers at nuclear power plants across the country. The remaining 40% are currently engaged in talks with government "counselors" to help them figure out alternative employment. 

 

To clear up any confusion, diesel and petrol cars are still allowed on our roads. They are no longer allowed to be sold. Those with petrol and diesel cars will be allowed to use them until the cars are no longer useable, or until the owner wishes to buy a new car (which will be hybrid or electric). Supply at the moment is plentiful, and electric cars continue to be made. Electric car companies had made use of generous breaks and built large factories with huge capacity. This capacity was not used until recently as the demand for electric cars was lower than it is now. At the moment, there isn't any risk of demand outstripping supply.

 

Finally, in a recent poll released by the non-profit, independent organization Poll Group LLC, 73% of those surveyed are very happy with the new climate measures, 11% say that either more could be done, and 16% say that they disapprove with the new laws. 

--

Thank you.

Edited February 13, 2017 by Emperor Tristar Majestica

[Kamea Arano]

Climate change doesn't exist. It's all in your human minds. 

[Emperor Tristar Majestica]

Climate change doesn't exist. It's all in your human minds. 

Good to know of your opinion on things. 

[Wolfie]

Je suis Marine Sakura, j'ai travaille pour Royaux-Blue, 

and I'd like to ask a few questions.

 

 

How will this correlate with France 2018, especially with France banning the use of Diesel or Oil cars without a special permit? Does Hungadada have any plan to work with the French Government with the regard of citizens of France and Hungadada who commute via the Calais Bridge? 

Also, are Hungadada and France working together for this climate change goals?

[Amaryllis]

Finally, in a recent poll released by the non-profit, independent organization Poll Group LLC, 73% of those surveyed are very happy with the new climate measures, 11% say that either more could be done, and 16% say that they disapprove with the new laws.

 

 

~Aeron Xun~

Ah and what do you think could be done more? Also, can we a general reason as to why there are those who disapprove the changes?

[Emperor Tristar Majestica]

 

Je suis Marine Sakura, j'ai travaille pour Royaux-Blue, 

and I'd like to ask a few questions.

 

 

How will this correlate with France 2018, especially with France banning the use of Diesel or Oil cars without a special permit? Does Hungadada have any plan to work with the French Government with the regard of citizens of France and Hungadada who commute via the Calais Bridge? 

Also, are Hungadada and France working together for this climate change goals?

 

HNS is not aware of any current goals being worked on by both Hungadada and France. As per the new law, French citizens with diesel or petrol cars are still allowed in Hungadada. 

 

OOC: We have a bridge??

 

 

~Aeron Xun~

Ah and what do you think could be done more? Also, can we a general reason as to why there are those who disapprove the changes?

 

While that particular survey did not specify the opinions of those who wanted more done, HNS conducted our own opinion poll and noted that a lot of the 11% who wanted more done said that more punishments should have been implemented to take action against those who break climate laws, both new and old. They say that the government while creating new laws, is not doing enough to enforce those laws. While it is not good to generalise, quite a few of those who were in the 16% disapproving were fossil fuel company exectutives, fossil fuel worker unions, and some workers themselves. Those in the industry of fossil fuels (coal, oil etc.) say that the government should be doing more to gradually ease Hungadada out of fossil fuel dependency, instead of shock moves. Some conservatives were also unhappy with the new laws.