#68: Lights, action!
On the bright side of climate action
Mōrena Climate Clubbers, and happy international day of light 🌞🌈⚡️
I hope you all caught some rays this weekend. And this week, there’s plenty of light amidst the dark. Here's some great news: Last year, the world built more new solar capacity than every other power source combined.
I find it so easy as climate change realists to be the grinch in the room, always pointing out that the latest storm is due to climate change, or that band-aid fixes aren’t good enough and that we need to focus on big wide systems change. What’s more, so many parts of living in our current system is such a grind - like trying to live in Auckland without a car. But to quote Leonard Cohen:
“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in”
So this week I'm focussing on being the light in the room. Better climate policies will mean a better society for all of us. I personally can’t wait to be able to e-bike anywhere and breathe cleaner air, within greener, more liveable cities. As this comic reminds us, we’re championing changes which will benefit all of us:
There’s a lot to look forward to. So this week, we've got lots of ways to focus our energy for good. And if you're interested in getting more light climate conversations into your company or community, we've kicked off light-hearted company-centric climate workshops.
We have been so grateful for the support we’ve been receiving since last week’s email about turning on optional paid subscriptions. To our new paying subscribers and founding members - thank you so much - your encouragement and sharing of Climate Club is truly the best way to help our community grow, and we appreciate it all. Thank you to everyone who shared this in your work chats, messaged your friends, chatted about Climate Club with your whanau - it all helps.
What can we do today?
The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the message to Grant Robertson to ask the government to move off fossil fuels for heating.
🐝 If you have 5 minutes: This much money doesn’t make cents
The topic of fairer taxes has managed to stay in the news for a few more weeks, with wealthy NZers signing an open letter saying they want to pay more taxes. With taxes being a powerful mechanism for levelling out inequality and funding systems change, tax policy is tightly linked to how we can achieve climate justice.
Action: Add your name to the open letter on tax - it’s for everyone to sign!
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is still set on axing all the good things in the council budget.
Action: Urge Wayne Brown to meet with community leaders to discuss alternatives to the budget cuts
Want to take your action further? Join the protest at the Auckland Town Hall tomorrow at 10am
🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Justice is questioning what just-is
The International Court of Justice is the world’s highest international court. Pacific allies have been fighting for an advisory opinion from the court to keep pushing for climate action. We’re now at the final moment for our politicians to submit to the ICJ before their landmark ruling on climate reparations in Jan next year
Action: Write a letter to the PM & foreign minister to urge them to make a strong submission to the court.
If you just have 5 mins: Sign the open letter to ICJAO
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Strike a match and light a fire under decision makers
Everywhere, Friday May 26th: The Global Climate Strike is coming up next Friday! See the list of demands from Fridays for Future here. If you’re working, ask your company to support the strike either by encouraging staff to take a longer lunch to attend, donating money, or helping out with things like sound systems. Else, save the date and let your mates and whanau know!
Action: Let them know that your business is up for supporting the strike (in any way!)Ōtepoti/Dunedin, Wed May 17th: Fridays for Future are hosting a creative session to prep for the climate strike.
Action: Paint, draw, and channel your creativity towards climate action!Tāmaki/Auckland, Sat May 20th, 7pm Chris Hipkins' latest Budget 2023 ruled out a tax for the rich to tackle inequality, the housing crisis and the climate crisis. Join System Change Aotearoa for a public meeting on what a Budget for People and Planet would look like, and why we need to tax the rich to pay for it. With the election coming up, now is the time to put the pressure on for better tax policies!
Action: Join the meeting in Auckland at 7pm, Saturday 20th of May
In case you missed it!
Next Friday, May 26th is the Aotearoa Climate Strike. Find Fridays for Future’s demands here and make sure to bring your community along! This strike is for anyone concerned about our future - you don’t have to be a student to join, and it’s a great supportive atmosphere if it’s your first strike. Find your nearest strike in this list of events!
Wins!
The Fair Tax Campaign met their funding goals! Keep an eye out for other ways to support their campaign.
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this Keep it Light podcast on the future, climate, and a few other weird things.
See you next week,
Emily & the Climate Club team
Such a need to see light not heat added to the debate, and also to celebrate the wins we've had. Find this newsletter practical and full of good ideas Thanks folks, Maggie