Climate change research
NASA
https://climate.nasa.gov/
The levels of carbon dioxide in the air are currently at its highest 650,000 years
The global temperature has increased by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880 and 18 of the 19 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001
The minimum of ice in the Arctic have been dropping 12.8 percent per decade and satellite data have indicated that the Earth's polar ice sheets are losing mass, especially in Greenland and the Antarctic.
How do we know climate change is happening?
https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
According to atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and direct measurements have proven that c02 levels in the atmosphere have been continuously increasing since the Industrial Revolution.
Current trends in climate change have been mostly resulted from human activity
In the top 700 meters of water, ocean temperatures have increased by 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.
Global sea level have risen by about eight inches in the last century
Oceans are vulnerable to climate change because carbon emissions that produced into the atmosphere are diverted into the oceans.
The surface of our oceans absorb up to 2 billion tons of greenhouse gases every year. Carbon emissions since the industrial revolution have produced acid in the oceans
Causes of climate change
https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
There are causes that we cannot avoid like human consumption of oxygen and volcanic eruptions, but these are minor compared to more harmful human activities like deforestation, pasturing land for agriculture, and using fossil fuels e.g. coal and oil.
In oil and coal being used as fossil fuels, the fumes combines itself with the oxygen in the air to produce carbon emissions.
Warmer conditions on the Earth will vary in results because some parts of the world will become wetter and others drier, which may also affect agriculture and ecosystems
Climate change makes an increase in sea levels because it expands the oceans.
Some crops may flourish in an atmosphere of high level carbon dioxide and may use the water in the ground more efficiently.
But human life might be a different story, leaving Earth as a massive agricultural incubator.
1300 scientific experts that have co-operated with the United Nations have concluded that 95 percent of climate change has essentially been human-made in the past 50 years. Human activities that our world economy and universal society depends on have been a major contributor to producing carbon dioxide levels in the past 150 years.
Worst case scenario - Earth will be like Venus
Greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
They have all contributed towards increases in the Earth's temperature over the past 50 years.
Climate change affects solar output from the sun to the Earth's atmosphere and how the atmosphere distributes heat.
Greenhouse gases can make the solar output worse in the future.
Effects
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
"Taken as a whole, the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time."- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations
As long as we continue with human activities that cause greenhouse gases, our global temperatures will continue to increase for decades to come.
The IPCC have forecasted a global temperature increase by the next century to be 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
This forecast will affect badly on some regions, but will benefit other regions at the same time. Which regions will be up to chance and fate.
In the United States, climate change may potentially make heat waves and droughts more intense, at the cost of cold weather and wintery seasons.
Global sea levels are expected to rise 1 to 4 feet by the year 2100. Increases in global sea levels are projected not to stop at the year 2100 since oceans take a very long time to react to warmer conditions.
Solutions
https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/resources/
https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/1010/climate-change-and-the-rise-and-fall-of-civilizations/
1. One being mitigation; which involves reducing and stabilising greenhouse gases and is an approach being currently applied by the current government in New Zealand and the country's recent Zero Carbon Bill legislation.
2. The other being adaption; which involves us all adapting to climate change that is to come and are in the present day.
Climate change is a complex issue that affects many universal factors like science, economics, society, politics, morality, and ethics.
Even if greenhouse emissions (especially carbon) were brought to a halt, we are still to encounter some form of climate change in the future.
However, continuing to be excessive with human activities that contribute to greenhouse gases, it may make things in our atmosphere and environment worse off for us to endure as a species.
Climate change in the future will be determined by how much greenhouse gases we will continue to produce.
In terms of the daily intake of greenhouse gases into Earth's atmosphere, we are facing the worst levels of carbon dioxide in human history.
The rise and fall of ancient civilisation have been believed to be partly responsible towards climate climate in the past.
Life and a growing culture are signs of a stable climate.
"When we excavate the remains of past civilisations, we rarely find any evidence that they made any attempts to adapt in the face of a changing climate. I view this inflexibility as the real reason for collapse."- Dr Jason Ur, Harvard University
Adaption means humanity, society, and the world economy must change along with the environment as a result of climate change. The more we affect climate change, the harder it will be for humanity to adapt in the long run.
The United States have no climate change policies to abide by, it has been left to cities and communities to take things into their own hands like constructing flood defenses, pavements that can deal better with stormwater and floods, as well as improve storing and the use of clean water.
According to a 2014 report by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), governments worldwide had been starting to factor in climate change when developing plans for land and water conservation, the agriculture industry, energy, public services, and civil defence.
NASA being one of the top experts on climate change cannot introduce government policy, but can advise anyone or any organisation on the planet.
NASA has an initiative called the Megacities Carbon Project, which accurately monitors greenhouse gases emitting from the biggest cities in the world.
Ministry for the Environment - New Zealand
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/why-climate-change-matters/evidence-climate-change
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/Environment-Aotearoa-2019-Summary#issue-9
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/node/16596
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/why-climate-change-matters/agriculture-emissions-and-climate-change
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/112213918/patiti-point-erosion-cuts-off-carpark?rm=a
While greenhouse gases have been critical to the state of climate change, it also maintains and gives balance to the global temperature.
It would be impossible for heat from the sun to be disturbed throughout the world without greenhouse gases and the planet would freeze without it. All it needs is a healthy balance.
Excessively producing more greenhouse gases will only make the atmosphere unstable, making places warmer and warmer than necessary. It's basically Mother Nature's diabetes and there should only be a small percentage of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Environment Aotearoa 2019 Summary
Sea levels in New Zealand have risen between 14-22 cm in the last century
Climate change has affected New Zealand by decreases in water qauilty in the seas that surround New Zealand, fewer frosts in the winter, more hot days in the summer, some parts of the country have been experiencing drier soil in the ground and stronger winds than usual.
There has been no change in extreme rainfall in most parts of New Zealand since 1960. However, extreme wind has declined in some parts of New Zealand.
Many events happening in New Zeraland's environment because of climate change have been deemed irreversible in our lifetime like erosion from extreme rainfall and wildlife going extinct.
Some droughts and floods in New Zealand are more intense than they should
Stopping further carbon emission won't stop climate change, but it will prevent further damage to the environment in the long run
Glaciers in New Zealand have lost a quarter of their ice in the past 40 years.
New Zealand provides a small portion of global carbon emissions. However, we do so significantly when it comes down to high emission per person from the methane and nitrous oxide produced from poir aging cars and primary industries.
Many sites crucial to our history and culture (e.g. maraes, national parks, burial sites) are vulnerable to the effects of climate change like flooding and erosion.
Paititi Point in Timaru is an example of this
Sea level increases -
Some land will become uninsurable and will be put at risk.
Owning land property will have more risk attached and may affect productivity in the primary industries in the long run, which our economy relies on at large.
Flooding and heat waves -
Negative impact on communications, energy, transport, and everything we may take for granted in order to live
The 2012-2013 drought that occurred in the West Coast and the North Island was the most extreme in recent history and was most likely caused by climate change.
There have been a dramatic shift in fishing seasons in Northland, as observed by the local fishing community.
Warmer and drier conditions near Nelson have seen an increase in pests and wasps
Between 1909 and 2009, the seas that surround New Zealand have seen a temperature increase of 0.7 degrees Celsius.
The average temperature in New Zealand between 1909 and 2016 have increased by 1 degree Celsius.
New Zealand's greenhouse emissions can be reversible if we take action and work together as a society. Even small reductions will give our future generations a better chance.
Most of our emissions in 2016 came from transport and the primary industries.
Like nuclear disarmament in 1980's New Zealand, the climate change movement are striving for a better future and environment for future generations.
Three quarters of greenhouse emissions produced by the primary industries in New Zealand come from the digestive systems of livestock, methane, manure, and nitrous oxide.
Nearly half of greenhouse emissions produced in New Zealand come from the primary industries, which make sense why they have recently made commitments to limit their emissions.
https://niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/students/climate-change-global-warming-and-greenhouse-gases
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into force on 21 March 1994. New Zealand is one of many whom signed this. The ultimate objective of the Convention is:
... stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system...
Important contributions that can be made by ordinary individuals are:
Ensure maximum energy efficiency at home;
Support where possible the provision of energy from renewable sources;
Drive a fuel-efficient car and choose means of transport which tend to minimise overall energy use;
When buying wood products, check that they originate from a renewable source.
https://niwa.co.nz/climate-change
NIWA - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
There has been a 19.6 percent increase in gross emission in New Zealand since 1990, but there has been a 52 percent increase in carbon dioxide since then in New Zealand
$800 million in storm cost in the past five years in New Zealand
The UN's IPCC has projected a 1 degree increase in temperature by 2040 in New Zealand
NZ climate action - enforcing businesses to ban plastic bags, setting zero carbon target for farms, the Zero Carbon legislation
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/
Act Now is an intiative to encourage climate action bty indidivuals and how they can contyribute to climate action. It is also to accelatere the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
589,254 climate actions have been taken around the world
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_17
The European Union has committed 1 trillion euro to climate action over the next decade and to be the first climate neutral bloc by 2050
They're calling it the 'Green Deal'.
https://climateaction.unfccc.int/views/country.html?country=NZ
inforgrapghics on climate action in New Zealand
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/likely-impacts-of-climate-change/how-could-climate-change-affect-my-region/southland
Spring
0.5°C to 2.4°C temperature rise
6 to 15 per cent more rainfall in Invercargill
Summer
0.5°C to 2.8°C temperature rise
1 to 6 per cent more rainfall in Invercargill
Autumn
0.7°C to 2.8°C temperature rise
No change to 4 per cent more rainfall in Invercargill
Winter
0.7°C to 3.0°C temperature rise
7 to 22 per cent more rainfall in Invercargill
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/116110502/southland-teenager-searches-for-more-action-on-climate-change
To keep temperatures consistently below 1.5 degrees in the future, scientists say emissions of carbon dioxide would have to be cut by 45 percent by 2030.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/113307717/more-than-1200-invercargill-and-bluff-homes-at-risk-from-sea-level-rise
More than 1200 houses and 13 critical facilities in Invercargill are at risk of being in danger of seas level rises
Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Adrian Orr visited Invercargill in June 2019, highlighted the importance of businesses to take note of climate change. This is an issue that the Invercargill City Council is aware of
Climate change is considered when ICC has developed asset management plan and other such documents including their Long Term Plan. They alson have taken sea level rises into account with their District Plan in 2019.
"In the Long-term Plan we identified that we should plan to increase our resilience to climate change and natural disasters. One way we are doing this is by developing an alternative water source. We also included key assumptions within the LTP regarding climate change. We believe it is likely to impact the way we carry out activities in relation to roading, water, wastewater, stormwater, and our flood banks during the period of the current LTP."
"We identified that climate change is a significant issue for most activities, and that we needed to review the city's tidal flood protection alongside Environment Southland."- Clare Hadley, CE of Invercargill City Council
Environment Southland policy and planning team leader Gavin McCullough said the city's wastewater plant and airport were two assets at risk.
"The existing Invercargill City Council District Plan and hazard maps show areas prone to flooding. There's a five-metre contour map and anything below that line is at risk of flooding - if you get a LIM for a property now these things are in there."
Invercargill has had flood protection walls along the New River Estuary in place for some time prior to climate change thinking.
The challenge now was to work out how to identify the projects that Southland might need, put them to council and seek approval for them, he said.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/118855668/federated-farmers-launches-petition-against-climate-change-teaching-resource
Federated Farmers launched a petition in opposition to climate change being taught in schools because they believe resources include are not appropriate for children, encourages activism (even though activism has already been encouraged by inaction), lifestyle changes that are not by supported by health professionals, and spreads misinformation about how agriculture contributes to climate change
"We're not denying climate change, we're just saying some of the facts are wrong."
"The petition will show them that there are parents and other members of society that aren't happy with this resource and want it changed"
- Federated Farmers climate change spokesman Andrew Hoggard
Beef and Lamb NZ had similar concerns about the new educational content on climate change and questioned on why it is reliant on a website from the United States and not New Zealand websites like 5 + a day. Maybe because they are more of experts in the subject.
It was piloted at South New Brighton School in Christchurch in 2018.
"It had input from a number of sources to ensure that it was able to be used in classrooms and schools with students. The Ministry for the Environment, NASA, NIWA, The Institute of Environment Science and Research, Christchurch City Council, MetService and Stats NZ were all consulted in the resource's development."
- Ministry of Education deputy secretary early learning and student achievement Ellen MacGregor-Reid
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/116010796/southland-local-body-candidates-tackle-climate-change-topic
Robert Guyton pushed for Environment Southland to declare a climate emergency during the latest term, however the motion was voted down 8-4.
"This Friday, marches in the country's main centres will show that action, not talk, is the way forward. I'm taking to the streets of Invercargill,"
- Robert Guyton, Environment Southland councilor
He says New Zealand's young people who have continued to push for action on climate change were fantastic.
He feels people who have looked down on those youth who have involved themselves in climate change strikes were now starting to look like dinosaurs because of their stance.
Peter McIntosh says he does not know if human action is behind climate change.
"There is no doubt climate change is occurring....."
"To me it is unclear whether climate change can be solely attributed to this pollution, or part of it is down to the earth's climate cycle. Regardless this polluting must stop and we must continually strive to reverse this,"- Peter McIntosh, Environment Southland councilor
Ten of the 11 Environment Southland councilors agreed that councils should do everything in their power to help limit global warming by also limiting temperature rises below 1.5 degrees Celsius
"We need to be prepared for more extreme events and progressively withdraw housing from low-lying coastal areas....
"Southland has a small role in reducing one of the causes of climate change by moving away from fossil fuel as an energy source,"- Lloyd Esler, Environment Southland councilor
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/112411588/report-into-southland-climate-change-predicts-more-extreme-weather-warmer-temperatures-and-higher-river-levels
The Southland region should expect hotter and wetter weather as climate change occurs over the years and decades
A major climate change report concerning Southland has been release, which has proven to be a hard and inconvenient truth for farmers and the economy in the region. The report was authored by NIWA (on behalf of Environment Southland), Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council and Gore District Council.
Progressive change will have be made over time as climate change takes place. Changes to food production, agriculture, and how councils plan for natural disasters in the future.
The key findings are that by the end of the century Southland will be warmer all year round, with the temperature expected to increase by one degree by 2040 and up to three degrees by 2090. The current mean summer temperature is 12 to 15 degree Celsius.
There will be extended periods of relatively higher temperatures, but average annual rainfall is projected to increase, mostly in winter and spring, and is likely to occur in more intense storms.
Coastal flooding will increase steadily resulting in more incidents of pure tidal flooding.
It says increased rainfall in parts of Southland, particularly in the winter, could make management of dairy farming areas difficult.
Central and northern parts of the region will experience more drought conditions which is expected to impact on the cropping industry, and flooding due to increased winter rainfall could effect agricultural production.
The Matura River, a central source of water for local farms will see changes in how the river flows. The annual river flow is expected to increase while summer flows become more variable and the low flows get lower.
Effects of climate change already happening in Southland
Orepuki residents have noticed coastal erosion rapidly advancing in the past five or six years, saying cliff faces continue to fall away into the ocean.
One of the most significant council infrastructures to be destroyed by weather was the Pyramid Bridge in northern Southland which collapsed in a flood in 2017.
Gore tends to ahead of everything when restricting water usage during the summer
"It's climate change that is top of our minds when we talk about the problems we have."
"We've thought a lot about it and have become alive to the possibility about changing our psyche towards it. Assets need to be able to withstand today's conditions and tomorrow's conditions."- Steve Parry, Chief Exceutive of the Gore District Council
"We know that the climate is changing, and in order to prepare, robust data was needed to base our decision-making and future plan developments on."
"The changes to our climate will have implications not only for Southland, but New Zealand's climate and weather systems, for freshwater availability and for our communities' exposure to hazards."Environment Southland policy and planning manager, Lucy Hicks
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/113492908/councillor-pushes-for-climate-change-stance-in-southland
Robert Guyton has been staunch towards a climate emergency being declared by the ICC and Environment Southland, but has unexpectedly not been taken well by his colleagues
To date Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, Nelson City Council, Dunedin City Council and Auckland Council have all declared a climate emergency.
"Emails to our chairman are arriving at an unprecedented rate and ask that we do as the other councils have already done. We should take the opportunity ... to listen and respond positively to those Southlanders,"
"After all, those are the people we are paid to represent,"
"From what they said, I'm assuming those councillors haven't seen the climate action movement, and I'm certain the councillors haven't been a part of those demonstrations or perhaps even aware of them."
"Farmers especially will benefit from the foresight that comes as a result of declaring an intention to protect Southland's resources."- Robert Guyton, Environment Southland councilor
"Declaring a state of emergency would require the council to overhaul its entire works programme and devote large sums to immediate climate mitigation... It's not quite practical"
"If all councils around the country do this, it says to government we want you to act faster, irrespective of the impacts to the economy."- Council chairman Nicol Horrell
"A state of emergency was not necessary... I don't actually see the reasoning behind it."
"You're almost categorised as a climate change denier,"
"Following council protocol is more important than declaring a state of emergency,"
"Council is doing so much behind the scenes in climate mitigation,"
"It's about getting the information out to the public,"- Grant Hubber, councilman
Guyton was determined to make a motion for a vote on the issue at council's July 3 meeting.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/116158479/southland-students-want-climate-state-of-emergency-declared
Demands on climate change made Schools Strike 4 Climate Southland organiser, Ashleigh Putt-Fallows
Southland needs to...
- declare a climate state of emergency
- develop a functional climate action plan
- develop guidelines for green businesses
- encourage businesses to be clean
- further community education on sustainable practices.
"It's a shame that it has come to high school students to find leadership... This something Environment Southland should be doing. We were elected to do this and we neglected to follow it up, so this is what happens."
- Robert Guyon, Environment Southland councilor
Northern Southland College student Eilish Graham, of Lumsden, says she doesn't want to see her home destroyed and hopes people can work together to make sure that it doesn't.
The best way to make change is to gradually change the way society functions but it was too late for that and we need to act now, Graham says.
"We all want a cleaner, better sustained environment because who wants to walk on a street full of trash and who wants to walk in a bush without the sound of birds."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/116376216/climate-activists-in-invercargill-join-nationwide-protest
The goal of the protest was to create awareness of the climate crisis and for ANZ to create policies away from the investment of fossil fuel industries.
"We are willing to do what it takes to make the Government sit up and listen because change needs to happen."
"We are already in the world's sixth mass extinction but it's not exactly extinction, it is more like an extermination."- Extinction Rebellion Southland organiser Raylene Carston
At a regional level, the group would like to see Environment Southland declare a climate state of emergency, Carston says.
Extinction Rebellion Southland organiser Alastair Carston says the reason ANZ was chosen for the protest was because it is a franchise they could spread their message nationwide.
An ANZ spokeswoman says ANZ supports the goals of the protesters.
ANZ New Zealand's lending to fossil fuels is less than 0.25 per cent of its lending book and declining. Most of that is in gas and it does not lend for oil exploration, the spokeswoman says.
ANZ are committed to funding and facilitating at least $15 billion in environmentally sustainable solutions by 2020 which it is close to achieving with $14.6 billion already invested, she says.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/115554577/invercargill-city-council-fined-for-discharging-raw-sewage-into-waihopai-river
For five days raw sewage was pumped into Invercargill's Waihopai River by its own city council.
The Invercargill City Council has been fined $30,625 for the incident which resulted in 36 cubic metres of sewage discharged between January 21 and 26 last year.
The council appeared for sentence in Environment Court in Invercargill on Thursday for one charge laid by Environment Southland for contravening the Resource Management Act.
During sentencing, the judge said the council had "something of a checkered record" in terms of sewage overflow with one previous conviction 23 years ago and a history of sewage overflow and sewerage pipe issues - which it seemed to have largely dealt with.
The judge fined the council $30,625 - with 10 per cent to be paid to Environment Southland - and ordered it to pay solicitor and court costs.
The council had sought advice to improve the system and was look at modelling that would produce data to show the best way forward, Parker said.
Environment Southland lawyer Tim McGuigan said it was understood the city council had insurance to cover such fines.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116014946/closed-invercargill-landfill-poses-future-risk-to-environment
A closed landfill near the New River Estuary in Invercargill may be at future risk from extreme weather events resulting from climate change, a city council senior staffer warns.
McIntosh says it does not present an immediate risk in relation to extreme weather events, given it is covered.
However, extreme weather events resulting from climate change may present a risk to the closed landfill in future years, given its location on the edge of the estuary.
The effects of sea level rise on the site have not been evaluated and will require further work.
McIntosh says he welcomes a plan by the Ministry for the Environment to identify former landfills so plans can be made on how to manage them in future.
Southland District Council water and waste manager Ian Evans says he is aware of about 70 closed landfill sites in various locations across the Southland district, some on council sites and others privately owned, but not including farm landfills.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/116103039/jacinda-ardern-announces-fiveway-climate-trade-talks?rm=a
New Zealand will lead a five-way trade talks with Norway, Iceland, Costa Rica and Fiji to try to use trade to combat climate change by slashing fossil-fuel subsidies and abolishing tariffs on environmental goods.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Costa Rica's Vice minister for Foreign Trade Duayner Saver Chaverri, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
So far there is little detail, with negotiations expected to start in March 2020.
"This will increase market access for goods and service that are more sustainable to nature"- Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama
"Climate change is a serious threat to us all and we fully need to step up our efforts,"- Prime Minster of Norway, Erna Solberg, (the only politically conservative leader of the grouping)
"I think our size does not fairly reflect our ambition"
"We are starting with a small group of like-minded countries that will produce an agreement that can be then used as blueprint for wider change"
"Tackling climate change is a long-term issue this Government is committed to, and that will require action both at home and abroad. It also needs to be addressed in trade rules,"- Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minster of New Zealand
The four developed countries in the deal all generate most of their electricity via hydro or geothermal energy.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117358681/bill-puts-southland-businesses-in-firing-line-dowie
Sarah Dowie believed the Government was moving too fast and was focused on reducing emissions at the cost of jobs without taking into account future technologies that may become available.
National also believed there needed to be science-based mitigation options available for farmers - that did not lead to herd culling and decreased food production - before agriculture entered the ETS.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/no-climate-emergency-declaration-southland
Environment Southland voted to determine whether to declare a climate emergency in Invercargill and Southland, only for a majority to vote against it.
The vote was brought by Robert Guyton and seconded by councilor Lyndal Ludlow
Chairman Nicol Horrell said declaring a climate emergency would be a "symbolic but empty gesture" and, "we can't afford to devalue the word emergency."
Others were concerned the word would prompt panic - to which Cr Guyton replied that of all councils that have so far declared an emergency there were "no reports of panic."
Councillor Ludlow made the point that had the discussion taken place five years ago, the issue would be about debating whether or not climate change existed at all.
When the motion was put to council to vote on, only councillors Rodway, Currie, Guyton and Ludlow supported it.
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/red-meat/farmers-air-frustrations-over-climate-change-blame
Southland farmers have felt wrongfully blamed for climate change because of the current government's progressive stance on climate action. Like it's
There had been condensing and ironic twists when it came to economic and environmental impacts of the work done by local farmers
"On one hand farmers were being told to increase production to feed the world but on the other, were told they were damaging it."
"Farmers will adapt to the demands of the public, but apart from those who make a hell of a lot of noise, like the vegans, the majority of the population want to eat meat and people need to realise that."
- Federated Farmers member Stuart Collie
NZ First List MP, Mark Patterson spoke to the farmers and listened to their concerns, which he said he would taker on board in Parliament
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/rural/2019/12/government-commits-9m-to-help-southland-farmers-lift-environmental-game.html
The Government is to fund a new project to hep Southland farmers and growers improve how they manage the environment.
Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor announced the Thriving Southland Change and Innovation Project as the first region-wide initiative supported by the $229 million Sustainable Land Use package announced in Budget 2019.
O'Connor said the project, involving more than 1000 Southland farmers and growers, will receive $6-9 million to help make the changes required to lift their environmental sustainability and unlock more value for their hard work.
"Our farmers and growers are committed to making genuine change. Many are already doing it, but they need practical information about what steps to take, clear direction about what to aim for and support to take action,"
- Damien O'Connor, Minister of Agriculture
The Thriving Southland Change and Innovation Project is expected to cover at least 21 local catchment groups and spans the sheep and beef, deer, arable, horticulture and dairy sectors.
"Southland communities have proven to be innovative, and as we begin to understand what our direction needs to be, we will see our farming communities implement change in a positive way,"
- Thriving Southland chairman, Ewen Mathieson
https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/news?item=id:28b796w2p1cxbychji5l
8th November 2019
The Waihopai River was awarded the Supreme Award for Most Improved River at the New Zealand River Awards 2019
"A lot of work was being done in this river catchment, but also across Southland to improve our waterways."
“I’m extremely proud to receive this award on behalf of the Waihopai catchment community,”
“Environment Southland, the Invercargill City Council, farmers, industry, and the local community joined together over 10 years ago with the aim of turning this river around, and this award is a recognition of that dedication.”- Environment Southland chairman, Nicol Horrell
This year judges looked at a combination of E. coli levels and the Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) to determine the most improving sites. The Waihopai River, located near Invercargill, is improving significantly in both areas, with E. coli dropping 6.1% per annum and its Macroinvertebrate Community Index rising 1.9% per annum over the past decade.
Macroinvertebrates are small animals that have no backbone or internal skeleton large enough to be visible to the naked eye, such as insects, freshwater crayfish, worms, and snails. Generally, the greater the diversity, the better the water quality in the stream.
https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/news?item=id:27zyyn4re1cxby7al92d
13th November 2019
A study looking at the sources of faecal pollution in Southland’s rivers has been published.
This jointly funded ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research) and Environment Southland study tested water samples across Southland, targeting rivers that were known to have high concentrations of E. coli.
The study showed that ruminant pollution (cows, sheep, deer and goats) was present in approximately 50% of samples, with increased prevalence following rainfall. Fecal pollution from ruminants typically contains bacteria that are a concern for human health. Human fecal pollution was also detected at a limited number of locations across Southland.
The dominant fecal pollution in 80% of the rivers sampled was from wildfowl such as geese, swans, gulls and ducks.
Environment Southland science manager and report author Dr Elaine Moriarty said that while the amount of fecal pollution from wildfowl was high, the risk to human health from this source is low.
“The risk of becoming sick after swimming in a river that contains bird pollution is low, while the risk of swimming in a river with even a small amount of pollution from human or ruminant sources is very high as the diseases this pollution carries are more readily transmitted to humans,”
“We have to work together to see the improvements that we all want for our rivers. We are all in this together from our high country farms to our urban communities – a joined-up approach to this problem is essential.”- Dr Elaine Moriarty, Environment Southland science manager
A number of industry bodies including Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, and Deer Industry NZ, as well as Te Ao Marama Inc, environmental agencies and community catchment groups, Public Health South and staff from the local councils attended a workshop to discuss the report findings and consider how to tackle this issue collectively.
https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/news?item=id:28b796w2p1cxbychji5l
11th December 2019
While a climate emergency has been taken by the ICC or Environment, on the same day they condoned urgency towards a climate change plan of action. They discussed the first draft, with more drafts to come and get developed.
The Council’s draft Climate Change Action Plan is being developed in two parts. The first part is focused on what Environment Southland can do, particularly in its day to day business. The second part takes a regional approach, which the Council is working on with the other councils.
“Taking action to address climate change impacts now and in the future is a priority for this council. We are committed to making a difference in our business and doing the same for Southland.”
“Our Climate Change Action Plan will continue to evolve, but we aren’t waiting to act. We already have some initiatives underway such as transitioning to hybrid and low emission vehicles.”
“Environment Southland always takes a long term view with future generations in mind and that makes addressing the impacts of climate change vitally important.”- Environment Southland chairman, Nicol Horrell
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-47570654
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaign/climate-emergency/
Greenpeace have a petition with 1.2 million signatures calling for a climate emergency
https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/01/16/microsoft-will-be-carbon-negative-by-2030/
https://www.nme.com/news/music/uk-music-industry-declares-climate-emergency-backed-radiohead-idles-nadine-shah-2527787
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2019-06/klimaneutralitaet-frankreich-klima-notstand-nationalversammlung-message-input-message-seo-support
https://www.un.org/en/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2019-09-23/remarks-2019-climate-action-summit
" Nature is angry. And we fool ourselves if we think we can fool nature. Because nature always strikes back. And around the world, nature is striking back with fury. "
" And young people – above all, young people – are here providing solutions, insisting on accountability, demanding urgent action. They are right. My generation has failed in its responsibility to protect our planet. That must change."
" The climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win. The climate crisis is caused by us – and the solutions must come from us. We have the tools: technology is on our side. "
" But it will require fundamental transformations in all aspects of society — how we grow food, use land, fuel our transport and power our economies."
" There is a cost to everything. But the biggest cost is doing nothing. The biggest cost is subsidizing a dying fossil fuel industry, building more and more coal power plants, and denying what is plain as day. "
" After all, is it common sense to give trillions in hard-earned taxpayers’ money to the fossil fuel industry to boost hurricanes, spread tropical diseases, and heighten conflict? "
" Is it common sense to build ever more coal plants that are choking our future?
Is it common sense to reward pollution that kills millions with dirty air and makes it dangerous for people in cities around the world to sometimes even venture out of their homes?
It is time to shift taxes from salaries to carbon, and to tax pollution, not people. "
" Science tells us that [on] our current path, we face at least 3-degrees Celsius of global heating by the end of the century.
I will not be there, but my granddaughters will.And your grandchildren, too.
I refuse to be an accomplice in the destruction of their home and only home.
I will not be a silent witness to the crime of dooming our present and destroying their right to a sustainable future.
It is my obligation – our obligation – to do everything to stop the climate crisis before it stops us. "
António Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
Climate emergency declarations
- The Pope
- At least 11,000 scientists worldwide
- Greta Thunberg
- British government
- Scotland
- France
- Republic of Ireland
- The British music industry
- The EU (European Union)
- NZ Youth Parliament
- Australian Medical Association
- Wales
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