#96: Our second birthday 🎂

On looking back and looking forward

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

Where were you on your climate journey two years ago? Two years ago to this day I was feeling hopeless and stressed about climate change, but had little confidence in speaking about it in public or knowing how climate action works. I definitely didn’t see myself as a “climate activist”. Now, I feel so comfortable with these things; in fact, I feel fulfilled and alive. Despite current politics and temperature rise (which I do still feel hopeless and stressed about often), I feel much better equipped to respond in a way that aligns with my values, and contributes to the change I want to see.

Here are some highlights from Climate Club’s second year:

• 🏭 Our ETS campaign closed a major loophole in legislation which would have given more money to polluters (continue to support this kaupapa by following Don’t Subsidise Pollution)

• 🎙️ We were in the paper, on the radio, and were invited to speak at several events and conferences.

• 👋 Over 300 people came to our Climate Action Workshops, including Hawkes’ Bay councillors, school students, community groups, and companies.

• 💖 We’re grateful for our 3 new volunteers: Cathy on our email team; and Lou & Zoe on social media (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)

Has your behaviour changed over the past 2 years? If so, how? We’ve got our Birthday Reader Survey again to get to know you, and how we could improve this newsletter. All questions optional. We would love to hear from you no matter where you are on your climate journey 💌

As we move into a new year, this is the first time Climate Club will be advocating for climate action to a new government that prioritises profits over people and the climate. There will likely need to be different ways of communicating, negotiating, finding common ground, and relationship building. Climate Club will continue to collaborate with older and wiser climate organisations for a future that is safe, liveable, and peaceful for everyone. We’re looking forward to learning and growing alongside you all as we navigate how to keep fighting for the future we need.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition to keep light rail in Auckland on track - ever more important as the new coalition government comes into play.

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Keep the foxes out of the hen house

• We’ve just seen our new coalition government sworn in this week. One of the policies mentioned during their election campaign was lifting the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration, after heavy lobbying from fossil fuel lobbyists. This would be simply incompatible with hitting safe climate targets.
  Action: Show the new government that we will not accept new oil and gas exploration here (Green Party petition, Kiwis in Climate Petition) 

• COP (Conference of the Parties) is the annual global climate summit (here’s a good explainer). We’re seeing more pressure on countries to address their emissions, but these COPs continue to be heavily influenced by fossil fuel companies, disrupting our need to phase out their industry.
  Action: Kick out fossil fuel polluters from future climate talks. 

🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Don’t COP out of this COP28 

• COP28 leadership are trying to launch a voluntary oil and gas industry industry pledge, called the 'Global Decarbonisation Alliance' (or possibly the 'Oil and Gas Charter', or something else). Organisations are calling for obligatory, transformative, ideally legally binding commitments over voluntary pledges.

  Action: Speak to an organisation you know or are part of to ask them to sign on to the open letter 

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Global and local negotiations

• Online, 5pm Thurs 7 Dec: COP28 is happening this week, and NZ business journalist Rod Oram and CEO of Eco Choice Aotearoa Laura Gemmell are speaking live from Dubai. They’ll talk about the processes of negotiation, and what big issues are getting attention.
  Action: Join the chat live from COP28

• Online/Te Whanganui-a-tara Wellington, next Monday: Join the NZ Fabian Society to discuss a very salient issue for Wellington: how does a progressive city deal with a conservative government? Hopefully they have some answers! 

  Action: Register for the event on the 4th of December 5:30- 6:30 PM

---

That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this resource of seven behaviours to “strengthen our spirits to resist and thrive in these times”, shared in 350 Aotearoa’s newsletter.

See you next week, 

Jenny & the Climate Club team

Linktree | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Climate Job Board