#62: The super wicked problem

On being jealous of Jesus

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday 🌱

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting out this week already looking forward to my four-day weekend. But as I get into the Easter spirit, weirdly I’m finding myself a bit envious of Jesus.

I promise this isn’t a religious rant. It’s just that for anyone who is desperately seeking big change, you have to admit the story of Easter is pretty powerful. In one swift, albeit grisly event, one individual (by all accounts a politically radical individual) was able to save the day. In fact, from the Marvel crew to Harry Potter, our fictional heroes have saved the world hundreds of times over in the period it’s taken us to simply accept climate change as a fact.

I often find myself tempted to look for the same simple narrative in the climate crisis. What’s the single hero policy, advocate, political party that will save the day? Why can’t we just get to grips with this thing and just fix it, now, right now!?

But the hard truth of climate action seems to be that the solution to this is not a one trick wonder. In fact it’s considered by many to be the epitome of the wicked problem, i.e. an issue so complex and interconnected that it demands far-reaching change at every level. Even more importantly a wicked problem will not be solved by the same tools and processes that are complicit in creating it.

So, the bad news is this thing isn’t going away soon, and it certainly isn’t going to be fixed quickly in one fell swoop. But the brilliant news is that what we do matters. Not as individuals making single big statements, but collectively as diverse groups chipping away at the areas where we have influence. Small and local doesn’t mean insignificant. It means resilient, decentralised communities tackling this problem in a way that doesn’t rely on the big systems that got us here in the first place.

 “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
― Edward Everett Hale, 19th century abolitionist

Following on from last week’s theme on climate anxiety, we’ve also published a guest post by counsellor and sustainability consultant, Silvia Purdie, on Coping with Climate Crisis.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific 🔥

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: 🎶 Frees a jolly good fellow 🎶

• Half price fares are turning one! First introduced on April 1st, 2022, this policy has been an easy win to get hundreds of thousands more people hopping on the bus or train. Budget 2023 is a great opportunity to make half price fares permanent for all, and make fares free for those who need it most. It’s also a great opportunity to clean up our transport system, one of NZ’s largest sources of emissions.
  Action: Sign the petition to keep half-price fares for everyone, for good!
  Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington: Join the official birthday party on the Parliament lawns! 

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If you have 15 minutes: Let’s cross that bridge

• Waka Kotahi are proposing options for new harbour crossings across the Waitematā harbour in Auckland. This opens up exciting possibilities for expanding Auckland’s transport options, but so far all of the plans include new infrastructure for more cars. Auckland needs to reduce transport emissions by 64% in the next 7 years. Being able to walk, bike, or scoot across the bridge will be crucial for this target.
  Action: Have your say on the proposals for a new Waitematā Harbour crossing

• Following on from last week’s ETS petition (which now has almost 3,000 signatures!) it's now the final week to make a full submission. To help get your submission writing juices going, why not join a submission writing party this Thursday the 6th from 7-8pm?
  Action: Submit on the ETS before April 6th. 

  • Wellington submission writing party

  • Nation-wide online submission writing party

  • Submission guide

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Give ‘em a shock to the system

• Tāmaki/Auckland, Thursday 7pm: System Change Aotearoa is hosting a major public meeting this Thursday opposing the climate cuts in the proposed Auckland Council budget. The meeting will hear from representatives from the Green Party, Te Pāti Māori, Greenpeace, FIRST Union, Unite Union and Fare-Free NZ.
  Action: Join the public meeting to call against climate cuts 

• Multiple cities, today: It’s 350’s Week of Action! Everyone has the right to a safe climate, and an affordable, resilient power supply, and 350 Aotearoa are publicly calling out energy generator/retailers who prioritise their profits over access to power for everyday Kiwis.
  Action: Check out the events this week and see if there’s one in your city! 

  • Tāmaki Makaurau

  • Te-Whanganui-a-Tara

  • Ōtautahi

  • Ōtepoti 

Wins!

• The UN has passed a historic resolution led by Vanuatu, seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change. The Resolution asks the ICJ to clarify what the obligations of states are in protecting the rights of current and future generations from the adverse effects of climate change. A significant step towards a sustainable future for all!

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy these climate action report cards for NZ companies!

See you next week, 

Cathy & the Climate Club team