#163: Let’s stop playing the blame game
On our collective responsibility
Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!
What happens if we ask the question: who is to blame for climate change?
If you say individuals, you risk drowning in guilt - for your individual actions—driving your car to work, or taking a flight across the country to visit grandparents, or eating meat. The weight of personal choices can lead to a spiral of despair rather than action. If you say companies and systems, you risk resignation - blaming fossil fuel companies and government inaction, and deciding that we are too small to make a difference.
But as political philosopher Iris Marion Young argued, acknowledging that something is systemic and structural doesn't take away individual responsibility.
So, what if instead we ask: who is responsible for climate justice?
Fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate change because they profit off continued carbon emissions. Governments are responsible for climate change because they have regulatory and political power that could be used to fight it. But individuals and communities are responsible for climate change too - not because we are to blame, but because we live within the system, and because we’re affected by it. The pain of climate change moves us to do something about it. We can be responsible without being to blame; we can be responsible without being swallowed by guilt. Responsibility is a more sustainable way of thinking about your role in the climate movement - it invites action rather than despair.
What can we do today?
The most-clicked link last week was the pay equity climate equity petition!
🐝 5 minutes: Make it click
The only emergency our country has declared is a climate emergency - yet our Government is acting under urgency without justifying what the urgency is. This is a dangerous loophole which leads to undemocratic decisions and much more environmental harm!
Action: Sign the petition to restrict the use of urgency to a 75% vote
🐇 15 minutes: Waste not want not
Due June 1st: The government is accepting submissions on the updates to the Waste Minimisation Act. The goal is to expand producer responsibilities for the entire product lifecycle. Having a better system for collecting and processing products so they can be reused and recycled is crucial for minimising waste and emissions. Last week we linked to a webinar to explain what’s up for consultation, and thanks to Zero Waste New Zealand we can now share a handy submission guide!
Action: Choose Zero Waste’s quick submission guide or the in-depth guide here to have your say on the new Waste Minimisation Act.
💃🏽 30+ minutes: We’re not mine-ing our own business
Across the motu, 28th-30th May: Last week, we wrote about the court hearing for the Denniston coal mining protesters. Despite the climate emergency and the clear need for an end to mining, ANZ continues to offer banking services to Bathurst Resources. With enough pressure, we can push ANZ to phase out banking services with not only Bathurst Resources, but all fossil fuel expansion companies. Other banks such as BNZ have committed to shutting down banking services to fossil fuel expansionists by 2030. Call on ANZ to do the same by joining the protests with the 350 Aotearoa team.
Action: Check the protest times and locations, and bring a mate along!
Events
Ōtautahi Christchurch, 24th May 3pm: Join Dr MahMah Timoteo, an anthropology graduate and climate activist, for a fascinating talk about how Pacific peoples navigate climate change.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 27th May 5:30pm: Join two law school climate advocates to work on understanding climate justice and the role of the International Court of Justice with frontline advocates from small island states.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 29th May 10am-4pm: How we communicate climate change and action is one of the most urgent missions of our times - join leading climate journalists to hear how they are thinking about communicating the climate emergency.
Pōneke/Wellington, 25th May, 3:45pm: Film night in Pōneke! Join Fee Fares NZ and The Future is Rail for the amazing film Bus Riders Union, followed by campaign updates from public transport campaigns, and then a community discussion
Wins!
China’s emissions have dropped for the first time, despite increasing demands for power, due to massive investments in clean energy. This could signal the tide turning for the world’s biggest emitter.
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Last week we shared a meditation for stress, this week enjoy this very earnest, definitely not satirical meditation app
See you next week,
Jodie & the Climate Club team
Linktree | Instagram | LinkedIn | Climate Job Board | Donate
That meditation app 😆