Kia ora Subscriber First Name

Welcome to our new people who have signed up to our newsletter. There seems to be a lot happening in the climate space at the moment. Our aim is that this newsletter will collate information and opportunities that help you stay connected and informed. 

We view climate issues and opportunities with a holistic education lens. As well as understanding climate science, we need to consider the systems within which we are operating, and implications for Tiriti and social justice.  

If you have an upcoming event or news to share about climate education in Aotearoa, let us know for future newsletters.

Recent Happenings:

In our last newsletter we shared the United Nations announcement about Children’s Rights and Climate Change, affirming children’s rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Conor Twyford has written this blog about it, commenting on its relevance, both internationally and in Aotearoa.  

…

There has been a lot of climate-related action happening in the past few weeks, with the Auckland Climate festival still underway and hosting an amazing number of workshops, training and community learning experiences. 

We have also seen an increase in activity around Climate Action week, with still more events happening around the motu this weekend. 

…

At the University of Waikato campus an energised group of students organised a climate action day on Wednesday 20 Sept. The event began with a screening of Climate Commons, a movie about climate action being taken across the motu. This was followed by a student panel discussing the movie and the potential for action. An action planning event is now organised for Wed 27 Sept to look at next steps. 

Politics:

It was disappointing to hear that this week that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is reversing a number of initiatives that were intended to reduce climate emissions. 

His rationale was that he was saving “hard-pressed families from unacceptable costs” of green policies, while trying to present Labour as piling them on.

The Climate Club’s newsletter this week addresses the same issue, but talks about why the cost of living and climate are two crises driven by the same root causes.  

And as the election gets closer, The Spinoff has gathered the climate change and environment policies of all political parties in a ‘two minute summary’. 

We have been sharing some of the campaigns in the build-up to the election that focus on climate issues, and Generation Zero’s recently launched one is a goodie. Focussing on a positive, hope-filled campaign, they have designed posters that will be hung around cities (or can be printed off and put up around school and communities), prompting people to think about who they are voting for and why. 

And Para Kore Marae is urging people to just get out and vote. They have focussed their newsletter sent today on climate action, particularly in light of voting beginning shortly. 

Getting back to basics:

If you are struggling to tell people what climate change is, and why it’s important that we do something about it, this episode of the BBC Podcast, The Climate Question, is a 15 minute overview has host Jordan Dunbar asking some experts the ‘dumb questions’ - that everyone needs to know the answers to.  

This older article from The Spinoff is useful to put a systems perspective on it. 

And a reminder of why our efforts in little old New Zealand is not too small to make a difference.

Webinar recording:

In our first email we shared the upcoming webinar to discuss ‘Me Tū ā-Uru - Action Plan for environmental governance’ and we are pleased that there is now a recording to share. 

Some of the key themes and ideas that Carwyn Jones, Ellie Tapsell and Maria Bargh spoke about were:

• Applying mātauranga Māori

• The 4 key areas / concepts of Me Tū ā-Uru - the Action Plan

• Several case studies that are particularly relevant to central and local government, as exemplars of where right relations have been restored between crown, iwi and hapu, te Tiriti, and te taiao.

• The plans actionable steps and recommendations

• Things move at the speed of trust

• Importance of reciprocity and centering relational approaches and frameworks in all we do

• Our interdependence with our non-human relations

• Investing in those who have knowledge and can contribute

• Evidence shows that when there is shared authority, there are better outcomes

• Being brave by stepping towards these principles, will have benefits.

• Going slower to build relationships with hui and cups of tea, will help things to go faster in the long-run

Research:

There is work underway in North America to develop a new set of guidelines focused on climate change education and climate justice. Follow this link to learn more, and have an opportunity to participate - comments are due by October 27, 2023. 

Events:

WEBINAR: The market won’t save us: Climate action for public good, not private profit

7pm, Wednesday 27th September.

Presented by Action Station, it will be a panel discussion, hearing from:

• Ed Miller - Researcher and Policy Analyst at FIRST Union and Researcher at the Centre for International International Corporate Tax Accountability

• Jacqueline Paul - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga researcher and rangatahi leader with a background in landscape architecture and urban planning. Jacqueline is currently a PhD student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US

• Alva Feldmeier - Executive Director of 350 Aotearoa, whose major campaigns focus on driving forward the renewable energy transition. Alva will also be our facilitator for the evening!

• India Logan-Riley - Climate Justice Organiser at ActionStation, and kaupapa Māori housing and climate community researcher

Register here

International Climate Action day Tuesday 24 October

Taranaki Enviroschools is holding an event for all schools - year 1-13, from 3:30-5pm in Stratford or via Zoom.

Climate change is a focus of learning in the refreshed curriculum Empower yourselves as we share advice & support from expert educators Chris Eames & Sian Carvell.

We’ll talk about the science, students well-being, having courageous conversations & dealing with different perspectives

RSVP: enviroschools@trc.govt.nz

Please share:

If you have a friend or colleague who would be interested in the content of this newsletter please forward it to them, and encourage them to sign up via the button below.