#132: Experimenting with better worlds
On appreciating spring blossom
Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!
Welcome to Spring! As my favourite season emerges, I've been gazing around with pleasant surprise at the blossoming change at my workplace. After what has felt like months of encouraging positive change, it’s been nice to step back with the aid of some spring sunshine and reflect on the wins.
I help facilitate outdoor educational experiences, and as part of my role I recently helped develop some new meal plans for students. This has increased low-carbon meal options, reducing our red meat consumption by almost half and offering a fully vegetarian lunch once a week (Thai Pumpkin Soup is DELICIOUS). We also bought some fruit trees, and started celebrating student visits by hosting a small tree planting ceremony together before they leave. These actions inspired me to reflect on how these changes came about. After the initial uncertainty of what would come with change, with support, everyone can settle into small readjusted routines – especially because they often resulted in a more positive, fun, healthy outcome. I also have a new appreciation for making changes as painless as possible, suggesting baby steps, and incorporating fun & joy into sustainable changes.
These recent experiences have helped me to learn the power of trying something new with others, as an experiment or an adventure together. It lets us try out positive new ways of being while knowing it doesn’t have to be forever. Often, knowing that you could undo leads to many changes staying in place or leading to further positives.
What can we do today?
The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition to keep KiwiBank publicly owned 💸
This week’s actions are mostly events! We know that’s unusual for us, so we want to take this change and encourage anyone who hasn’t gone to a climate event before to give it a go this week if you feel up to it. There’s both online and in-person events, and they’re both great ways to meet more of the wider climate community.
💃🏽 30+ minutes: An eventful week
Online, Mon Sept 16, 6pm: We know that while joining a new climate group is exciting, it can also be a bit intimidating. The 350 Aotearoa team are holding an online webinar to answer any questions you might have about joining 350, and for you to get a chance to meet their volunteers!
Action: Register for an intro to 350 AotearoaParaparaumu, Sun 22 Sep, 1pm: Low Carbon Kāpiti is hosting a talk Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Executive Director Jessica Palairet on using the courts to achieve systems change.
Action: RSVP here for the public talk on taking climate action to the courtsOtago, due 6 October: The Otago Regional Council is taking feedback on their Strategic Climate Action Plan. While we don’t have a submission guide, it’s quite short and multi-choice!
Action: Have a read of the Action Plan or the ORC’s online summary and submit your feedbackTāmaki Auckland: Love cycling, and got an idea for a sweet event? Biketober is coming up, and they’re looking for local, community-led activities. Transport is 20% of our emissions, and bikes are a great way to shift cars off congested roads while improving public health and air pollution.
Action: Submit an event for Biketober 2024
In case you missed it!
The Fast Track Bill removes the voice of local councils, public health officials, NGOs, and most of the public in proposals for infrastructure projects. It still has no mention of environmental impact or honouring Te Tiriti as a criteria. And yet, many New Zealanders still don’t know about this bill and its potential wide-reaching impacts of the climate & democracy. Shifting public opinion is key to shifting politicians, so let’s learn about how to communicate to the public this undemocratic bill.
Christchurch, September 10th, 7pm: Meet at the Aldersgate Centre in town for a special public meeting on the fast-track bill. This is a chance to find out how the bill will affect nature in Canterbury and beyond, and how you can help stop the fast-track bill.
Online: 350 Aotearoa is offering support to local community groups at risk of being affected by Fast Track projects in their local areas. They can help connect you to experts, lawyers, trainers, activists, and other locals - fill out their survey on how you would like to be supported.
Wins!
Last week’s landmark ruling by South Korea’s constitutional court was a significant victory for climate action in Asia! It found that parts of South Korea’s climate law are failing to protect the rights of future generations and passing an excessive burden to them. The ruling now requires the national assembly to set legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2031-49 by February 2026. Climate litigation is an active growing area - Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act, Youth v. Gov in the USA, and our very own Lawyers for Climate Action NZ including Smith v. Fonterra are other examples in this space.
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy voting for Bird of the Year! It’s your chance to vote for your favourite bird. The election is run to help to raise awareness for our native wildlife, their habitats, and the threats they face, so show your support!
See you next week,
Lou & the Climate Club team
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