#115: Probletunities

On problems as a pathway to better alternatives

May 13, 2024

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

Perhaps you’ve all seen the news that climate scientists now warn that we’re heading for at least 2.5C warming, or the news of the floods in Brazil. Maybe you’ve also seen the excellent accompaniment on our reasons for hope. But I thought I’d give you a more local reason to hope, one that every one of you has had a part in creating:

🎉 New Zealand’s emissions are falling. They have been falling for 3 years in a row in 2022. 🎉

Covid lockdowns did help plummet our transport emissions. But almost every other sector saw emissions reductions: primary industries, energy, manufacturing, and more. While our 2050 climate targets were rather weak, the good news is that we were making progress towards them.

The operative word being “were”. Marc Daalder’s article says the projections “were based on policies set in place by the last government, many of which have been scrapped. The list of axed policies include the Clean Car Discount which incentivised electric vehicle uptake and government subsidies for industrial fossil fuel users to decarbonise.”

We clearly know how to reduce our emissions as a country. We just need to build the incentives for politicians, businesses, and communities to do it – in an affordable, equitable way.

There are opportunities for this in every sector of society. For example, in response to last week’s power shortage spook, climate organisations connected this to broader opportunities to strengthen & clean up our current energy system, like investing in renewables and making it more affordable for households to get solar panels. Every problem is an opening for a better alternative. Here are some opportunities you can take today:

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition asking Microsoft to live up to their climate goals.

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Save Te Huia from becoming extinct

Funding for Te Huia Hamilton-Auckland passenger train is at risk, only halfway through its 5-year trial. This train has exceeded its passenger targets despite Covid, and the whole 5-year trial costs about the same as building 1 kilometre of the Waikato Expressway. Hundreds of people have shown up in person at public events in Hamilton and Pōkeno, asking the 5 year trial to continue. Even if you don’t travel near Auckland/Hamilton, the success of Te Huia will make it easier to restore train networks across the rest of New Zealand.
Action: Sign the Te Huia Petition (you can also join the Facebook group)

🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Ch-ch-changes

The independent Climate Change Commission is asking for feedback on reasons to strengthen the emissions reduction targets they will propose to the government, following their half-grim-half-hopeful assessment of how we’re doing. We must strengthen them in light of new evidence that climate change is happening faster than we thought - and they’re asking for us to add to the list of reasons why.
Action: Write a submission using this guide written by our epic Climate Club readers Rae and Lucy

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Keeping our favourite long-distance relationship

As an extra action to support more long-distance train services across the country, write an email to the transport minister and local MPs and tell them how much you value Te Huia Hamilton-Auckland train.
Action: Use this email guide to write or call an MP in support of Te Huia train

Save the Date to March against the Fast Track

1pm Sat 8 June: 10,000s of submissions & a big hīkoi, momentum against the Fast Track Bill is mounting. With oral submissions being limited to a random minority (cheat sheet here if you get picked!), we must keep pushing against this rollback of 30 years of environmental & climate progress and democracy. Join Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, Communities Against Fast Track, Coromandel Watchdog, WWF-NZ, and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining next month at the “March for Nature”.
Action: Mark the “March For Nature” in your calendar!

Community events

The Mindful Money Conference & Awards are coming up. This year, they have a new People’s Choice Award category to demonstrate public support for values-aligned investment – i.e. not putting our savings in fossil fuels!
Action: Vote for your favourite ethical fund before 20th May
Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau, 7pm Sat 25 May: Join a fun quiz & auction night while also helping raise funds for youth-led climate justice organisation, Generation Zero, the ones behind the Zero Carbon Act!
Action: Grab a ticket ($20pp) for a fun night in Grey Lynn with climate-y folks!

Climate Club