#214: Nothing is simple
On the good, the bad and the in-between
Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!
The government has announced that funding for Ara Ake, the energy innovation centre established in 2020 to help transition away from oil and gas, will be cut at the end of this month. This is the same government proposing to invest in a multi-billion dollar LNG import terminal. In the middle of a fuel crisis, they couldn’t find $6 million for energy innovation - but they can find billions for imported gas. How convenient that in ten years they could say, “good thing we invested in that LNG terminal, there hasn’t been any other innovation in the energy sector!”
The good news is that in the same budget, there will be a $30 million fund to put solar on schools. And while that’s definitely a win, what the government has been more quiet about is that part of that funding is being redirected from Ara Ake. Solar on schools - great! Gutting the centre that was meant to drive the next decades of energy innovation - less great.
This is just a friendly reminder that nothing is straightforward. Especially in the climate space, the wins are not usually linear. While we can still celebrate the nuanced wins, we can’t ignore the losses. In the wake of Ara Ake, this might look like continued pressure for a fit-for-purpose energy strategy, and a push on the government to ask where our energy innovation is.
What can we do today?
The most-clicked link last week was the Greenpeace petition calling for the government to protect conservation land. This week we have a follow-up for you in the 30 mins section!
🐝 5 minutes: I am once again asking for an Energy Strategy
350 Aotearoa are calling for people to sign their petition demanding the Government create an Energy Strategy with a roadmap for the next 30 years of energy transformation in Aotearoa. The Strategy is needed to force a rapid national energy transition which is sustainable, affordable and reliable.
Action: Call for a roadmap for sustainable energy for us all
🐇 15 minutes: Save the tramping, camping, there for admiring
Aotearoa New Zealand’s public conservation land is ringfenced by the government to protect nature, cultural heritage, and wildlife - these are the grounds you may have tramped and camped on. The Conservation Amendment Bill is a proposed New Zealand law that would make major changes to how public conservation land is managed. Some of the changes to streamline and modernise decision-making processes are sensible. However, other changes (such as making it easier to sell public lands) are likely to have very damaging impacts on conservation, and weaken the protection on these lands - many of which are massive carbon sinks for Aotearoa.
Action: Write a submission to protect our public conservation lands. No template this time, but for more information, Forest & Bird has written a full breakdown of the billWaipa District: Are you a rangatahi aged 18-24 living in Waipa District? The Council wants to hear from you about what matters most in your community (including conservation and the environment). This is your chance to make your voice heard locally and win some cool prizes.
Action: Let Waipa District Council know what matters to youCanterbury District: Environment Canterbury is currently reviewing the bus and ferry network within Christchurch and the surrounding townships in Selwyn and Waimakariri. They want to hear from you about what works, what doesn’t work and what would encourage you to use public transport more often.
Action: Help guide Environment Canterbury’s public transport strategy
💃🏽 30+ minutes: Peace in the time of big powers
Whakatū Nelson (ending 30th June): Nelson Environment Centre is facing a funding crisis. They are aiming to meet their next funding goal by the end of June. As an Enviro Centre, one of their key services is their Kai Rescue, which helps to feed locals and minimise food waste.
Action: Nelson Environment Centre has made a list of five ways you can help. Whether you’re a business owner, fundraiser or able to support the Centre by shopping at their local ReUse Op-Shops, a little support can go a long way.Taranaki: Don’t let perfectly good kai go to waste! Sustainable Taranaki has created a list of Pataka Kai (public pantries), foodbanks and food swap programs where people are welcome to drop-off, share or swap food for free. A wonderful way to divert food from landfills.
Action: Be more mindful of your food waste by taking a look at the ‘Food for Free’ resource.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Saturday June 20th: Did you know that as well as the significant humanitarian devastation the conflict in the Middle East is causing, it also has a huge environmental impact? Join Anti-War Aotearoa and Greenpeace Aotearoa for a massive March for Peace! Together, you can demand a truly independent foreign policy that puts people and the planet first, including a rejection of Trump’s war minerals deals.
Action: Find out more and take part here
In case you missed it!
There have been over $1 million of political donations linked to fast-tracked projects since 2022. These include projects linked to mining, sand extraction, and quarry construction. Climate Liberation Aotearoa is calling on the Labour Party to commit to repealing the Fast-Track Legislation as well as protecting people’s rights to hold polluters accountable in court (see our 19 May newsletter for more information on this).
Action: Add your name to Climate Liberation Aotearoa’s petition here
Events
Ōtepoti Dunedin, TODAY 6-8pm: Climate Liberation Aotearoa are hosting a ‘Climate Emergency Meeting’. Come along to learn more about their kaupapa and for an interactive workshop that covers the climate crisis. Register for the event here.
Northland, 11th-12th June: The ‘Wananga Wairoa & Climate Summit’ is a two-day event focused on facilitating discussions and reflections related to climate change, collective action, reforms and more. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Māori-led climate action and future pathways to partnership. Register for your free seat here and view the itinerary here.
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Sunday 14th June: Climate Liberation Aotearoa is hosting a screening of the grassroots film ‘A Line In The Sandstone,’ a documentary that follows activists working to protect the Dennison Plateau. This event is free, but koha is appreciated. Get more information here.
Wins!
The worst-case climate scenario projecting 5 degrees of warming by 2100 has been officially cancelled! While some experts say that doomsday scenario was never actually that plausible, in the spirit of today’s newsletter, it’s still important to celebrate the nuanced wins 💛
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this beautiful story of how The Love Rimurimu Project is restoring giant underwater kelp forests in Wellington that will serve as massive carbon sinks.
See you next week,
Evelyn & the Climate Club team
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Kia ora team, may I suggest a topic for another newsletter: local government reorganisation (and apologies if I missed this in an existing edition!).
Central govt's proposal involves abolishing regional councils and giving those responsibilities to new unitary authorities or centralising them. Existing councils must submit proposals by 9 Aug, and many have surveys out to gauge public feeling, but the conversation seems focused on how to merge existing district/city entities effectively.
Where Climate Club might be able to help is to highlight the "regional" part of this conversation: questioning/suggesting how proposed unitaries can also accommodate public transport, environmental monitoring, biodiversity, biosecurity, freshwater & coastal management etc. It's a huge deal, and at the moment the "detail" of making proposals work is being left to central govt.