Water we going to do about it?

On turning small talk into big talk

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

For the second week in a row, we want to acknowledge the severe rain and flooding that has been impacting communities around the motu and abroad.

Coverage of climate change is often accompanied by images of raging fire, and while that is certainly a risk many of our regions face, in our little island nation down here in the South Pacific, it’s increasingly clear that climate change might look a little different for us: namely flooding, water, and rain. Floods have long been a hazard in Aotearoa, but as these severe weather events become more common, we should acknowledge them for what they are: evidence of climate change.

It can be hard for people to grasp the reality of climate change when it’s seen as a far-off thing, represented by complicated graphs. Unlike climate change however, talking about the weather is easy, and something we do every day.

Nick Newman, The Times

Maybe the weather can become a way to deepen our conversations about climate change, to connect to the ways we experience it in the everyday, and importantly, what we can do about it.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link last week was 350’s bank petition. Have you signed it?

🐝 5 minutes: Mediate the media

• Despite the widespread bad weather, there has been very little mention of climate change’s impact on the weather. Extinction Rebellion Queenstown Lakes are encouraging people to make a formal complaint to TVNZ for not mentioning the links to climate change in their coverage of the floods.
  Action: Use XR’s template to send a pre-written email to TVNZ

🐇 15 minutes: Climate action is here, there and everywhere!

• For people living in Waihōpai Invercargill, the council is currently running a survey of residents. A key question in the survey is the future of public transport in the city, which is currently very limited – not running in the evenings or on Sundays. Want more frequent public transport?

  Action: Fill out the survey here

• Papaiōea Palmerston North City Council is currently consulting on their Climate Action Plan. This is a good opportunity to provide feedback on how the city can reduce emissions and share ideas for climate resilience.
  Action: provide feedback on your city’s climate action plan here

• Do you live in Whakatāne and want to pitch a way to address climate change? The council is offering grants of up to $20,000 to fund ideas on how to reduce emissions in the area.
  Action: Submit a grant proposal to a community climate action grant here

💃🏽 30+ minutes: Water you going to do? Run for council!

• Thinking of running for local elections to improve climate-related decision-making in your area? Nominations are now open for elections. Here is a good explainer about the process. Nominations close 1 August at 12 noon.
  Action: Nudge someone to nominate themselves for local election or sign up for our GLOW programme

• One of the biggest climate polluters in Aotearoa is fertiliser use, which creates nitrous oxide and runoff. There is a sneaky new bill that is looking at repealing limits on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser per hectare, which would increase emissions of a very warming greenhouse gas and increase rates of bowel cancer in downstream areas. Think this is gross? Choose Clean Water has written a submission guide for you to use to write about it.

  Action: Write a submission on the freshwater policy changes using this handy dandy submission guide

Events

• Ōtautahi Christchurch, Sunday July 13: Calling all creatives! (and anyone keen to take action). Climate Liberation Aotearoa is hosting a ‘Creatives against Coal’ hui to plan the upcoming day of Nationwide protest against ANZ and the proposed Denniston Mine.
  Link: Sign up for the hui here

In case you missed it

• Waikato, 13th July: Your region’s bus service is being reviewed. Do you want fast, frequent buses? Tell the council so that they can get you sorted.

  Action: Give 10 mins of feedback in the survey by 13 July

Wins!

• The government announced a $15 million suspensory loan for Rakiura Stewart Island to build a solar farm and battery storage there. Currently, the island relies on diesel generators, which are expensive and bad for the environment.

• Thank you to everyone who signed the petition to restore passenger rail between Christchurch and Invercargill. The petition had over 12,000 signatures and was presented to MPs in Dunedin.

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this climate-themed issue of fiction, poetry and essays by local publication circular.

See you next week,

Jodie & the Climate Club team

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