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This newsletter is a short one, falling after the election and before a long weekend. 

We have just seen an election campaign where future thinking was limited to the next financial year or three-year political term, and climate issues were largely ignored or ill-informed.

Like many, we are taking some time to think about what happens next, though the past few months have demonstrated why our work is so important. There is no doubt that significantly more New Zealanders need a better understanding of climate change and the ways that we can and should be re-thinking what and how we do things to ensure a safe future for everyone.

Government inquiry into community-led adaptation and retreat:

The Environment Select Committee currently has submissions open in its inquiry into climate adaptation.

As part of the process, the Ministry for the Environment has published this Issues and Options paper, and this report of the government appointed Expert Working Group on Managed Retreat. 

Submissions are due on 1 November 2023, but may be extended until the new Environment Select Committee is set up and their work priorities confirmed. 

ACEC has been working on a submission that will focus on:

• The role of schools in climate adaptation and retreat, both in terms of their physical presence, and the school’s role as a connection point for whānau and community

• The role of education in transitioning to a climate-impacted future

• The importance of education for equitable transition

• The need for evidence-based, research-informed education and learning design to be at the very heart of community engagement, empowerment and decision-making.

We encourage you to either make your own submission, or contact us to discuss the submission process some more or get involved in the ACEC one.

Webinar Recording:

Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures recently hosted a webinar with Sophie Howe, the world’s first Future Generations Commissioner (Wales).

The webinar recording is now available Webinar with Sophie Howe – intergenerational stewardship for Aotearoa NZ – Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures. At the 34 minute mark Sophie makes the case for why education systems need to change, and discusses the value of having a Future Generations Act as a lever to press for change and to hold government agencies accountable. Learn more about the Future Generations Commissioner here: The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales – Acting today for a better tomorrow

Upcoming Events:

8th Adaptation Futures Conference to be held in Ōtautahi | Christchurch in 2025

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury have announced they will host the 8th Adaptation Futures Conference in 2025 at Te Pae,  28 Oct – 02 Nov.

The conference provides a unique opportunity to share adaptation expertise, skills and experiences with a leading network of scientists, practitioners, governments, industry and community, educators and youth leaders and community advocates to advance adaptation to our rapidly changing climate. AF2025 includes six special events to showcase and advance knowledge including a global Talanoa connecting high-school students, teachers and young activists.

Although it’s nearly 2 years away, this sounds like it will be an amazing event and the organisers are keen to hear ideas for priority themes. Register your interest or share theme suggestions here: Adaptation Futures Conference 2025 (adaptationfutures2025.com)

The Future of Sustainability conference has online options

This upcoming Australia/NZ online conference may be of interest to some in our network ACTS Conference - The Future of Sustainability.

While the conference is very expensive, the good news is that at least five NZ tertiary organisations have secured unlimited registrations (yes free) for students and staff - including Te Pūkenga, Massey University, University of Otago, University of Canterbury, and VUW.  Day 4 (Thursday 16 November) has a climate focussed programme. For other institutions student registration is $20AUD so may still be worth your while if you’re in full time study with another institution.

Video recording:

Rauora model for climate change adaptation

As we were working on the Climate Adaptation submission earlier in the week, we were reminded of the words of Mike Smith (Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Kahu), who spoke to the NZAEE conference last year. Here’s the recording of his presentation (40 minutes). Mike is Chair of Pou Take Ahurangi, the National Iwi Chairs Forum Climate Change Pou. He described the very real threat climate change is to Māori communities, and presented the Rauora model, which was originally developed as a framework for the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. 

Rauora depicts a worldview indigenous to Aotearoa, which centralises interconnection, collectivity, holistic wellbeing and intergenerational equity within a changing environment, and Mike describes ways that we can transition to this way of being. 

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