#92: When power corrupts

On the climate impacts of hoarding power

Mōrena! While I’m happy it’s Tuesday, this week I’ve been struggling to continue with everyday life - work, rest, play - while knowing that historic shifts are happening in the world right now. 

The continued violence in Israel/Palestine and the genocide in occupied Palestine leave millions without access to electricity, water, and food (grassroots actions & info). Our newly-elected MPs are talking about reversing climate mitigation & adaptation policies all while Cyclone Lola is battering Northland and the Coromandel. Behind our NZ election, National & Act received 7.5x more in donations than Labour or Greens, mostly from very wealthy individuals.

When I reflect on these news items, I see the wants of the powerful eclipsing the needs of the many. While it’s disappointing, it’s not surprising that those with the most power are the ones opposing climate justice. Our current system still gives more benefits than penalties to pollute. So it makes sense that the biggest corporations, media moguls, and the ultra-rich (+ their political allies) want to maintain the damaging status quo. Whether it’s downplaying the impacts of climate change, presenting a media narrative that justifies war (including its environmental impacts and also the often oil-fuelled motivations), or opposing regulations that make polluters pay, the combined climate impacts of efforts to hoard power are huge. 

So how do we oppose this infinite hoarding of power? In a word: people power. While these groups might have the money, we have the people. As people, our voice is heard when we take action to shift power to the many - this is integral to our fight for climate justice. 

Taking back our power takes practice. We do it by doing what we do each week - looking for levers of power in the news stories we hear each day, reading up broadly on issues, practising speaking up in conversations and to representatives, and changing our own behaviour as well.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was this petition to ask CitiBank to stop funding fossil fuel projects.

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Paua to the people

• The Ministry for Primary Industries has proposed 4 options for bottom fishing in the Hauraki Gulf. Unfortunately, none of the options rule out bottom trawling completely. This is yet another way to keep incrementally damaging our ocean floors, which support the ecosystems that absorb 50% of CO2.
  Action, due 5pm Mon 6 Nov: Support Greenpeace’s ban on bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf

🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Get connected to the newly elected

• Are you part of an organisation/community group looking to get started on lowering emissions or building resilience to climate change?
  Action: Climate Connect Aotearoa’s ClimateLink quiz for resources and connections will help you get started!

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Power down or power up

• As a follow-on to last week’s submission guide on NZ’s energy transition, here’s a more specific submission guide on the Interim Hydrogen Roadmap specifically. Thank you to Climate Karanga Marlborough for this guide!
  Action (due Thurs 2 November): Submit on NZ’s plan for using green hydrogen as an energy source using our submission guide

• Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington, Saturday November 4th: Pacific communities across the world are gathering in solidarity to build a world without fossil fuels for people to thrive. The event is free and open to the public. There will be banner painting, fabric painting, weaving and more! All activities will be framed around moving towards a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific.

  Action: Join the Pacific Power Up

In case you missed it

• Thanks to the many readers who wrote to their new local MPs on why climate action is important to them, and CC'd climateclubnz@substack.com so we could get an idea of our impact. It was awesome reading your emails. Getting in touch with MPs now is a great way to set the tone of their new term in office, with the issues that their constituents care about most.
  Action: Find your new MP’s contact details and give them a call or send them an email

Wins!

• Last Wednesday, the Otago Regional Council voted in favour of divesting from all fossil fuel investments! A huge thanks to all of you among our readers who have been involved in this campaign by 350 Aotearoa. Interested? Join a local 350 group or sign up to be an individual volunteer.

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this carousel of quotes on power.

See you next week, 
Jenny & the Climate Club team
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