The Climate Chap: The year in review

THE CLIMATE CHAP
19 Dec, 2022

OPINION

I must start by wishing you all the best for the festive season and for a wonderful 2023. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my fortnightly climate articles and thank Rich Pooley and his team at the Mangawhai Focus for this super opportunity. Starting in January 2021, we have published over 40 articles – 30,000 words! Can I also acknowledge those readers who have contacted me with their feedback and suggestions for further articles. Greatly appreciated.

What can I say about 2022? I certainly intend to make this article positive so I will gloss over the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic, inflation, war in Europe, rising interest rates, autocratic dictators, Beehive protests, KiwiSaver and investment losses, All Blacks performances, and sadly the death of the wonderful Queen Elizabeth II.

Focusing on climate, 2022 became a pivotal year where numerous “tipping points” were experienced – some positive, some negative. The negatives were the stunning increase in temperatures experienced from the USA through England and Europe, into the Middle East and onto China. Forty degrees Celcius, once only experienced in Death Valley, has become widespread. Glaciers continue to rapidly melt as does the tundra of northern Canada and Russia, releasing vast amounts of methane emissions. Terrifying floods in Pakistan, Australia, China, America and our South Island, have been experienced with up to one metre of rain falling over a day or two. Ironically droughts continue to be more widespread especially in China, the South West of the USA, eastern Africa and Central Europe. Global emissions keep rising.

The climate crisis arrived in 2022

However, some positive. Climate change was a lead subject in Australia’s general election with the incumbent climate-denying premier thrown out. For the younger generation this was a key issue and they voted in their masses for a new government that was prepared to take the climate challenge on board.

The USA finally legislated for funds to be directed towards renewable energy and fossil fuel reduction. Less than President Biden hoped for and still with massive subsidies for the American oil and beef industries, but a big step in the right direction for the planet’s leading polluter.

Another positive. Globally sales of EV’s have been sensational, from 2 percent of all new sales in 2019 to over 15 percent now. Our government still has much to do but the “clean” discounts have been well received, and it’s thrilling to see all the Tesla’s heading into Mangawhai on Friday nights.

Planting of native trees throughout Aotearoa has been accelerating, with Trees That Count alone having planted over one million.

Two further positives are the amazing progress achieved nationally by our Climate Change Commission based in Wellington, who are keeping the Government accountable and working their hearts out to ensure that we meet our international commitments to reduce emissions steadily from now through 2050. And finally, full credit to the Sustainable Kaipara team who have worked wonders in 2022 in promoting recycling, composting and sustainability throughout our community.

Key challenges for 2023

We must massively expand our national supply of electricity to accommodate 100 percent renewable energy, eliminating fossil fuels for transport, homes and industry, and during a time of rapid population growth. Our national grid has to become failsafe. It’s great that more and more solar and wind farms are being consented, but many of our critical hydro stations will be 100 years old by 2050. Every “cloud-based data centre” being built here requires the sort of power that medium sized towns consume, but where’s the electricity coming from?

The main challenge? Less than 1 percent of Kiwis still generate over 40 percent of our national harmful emissions and so far have not contributed to any reductions. In fact, vast amounts of taxpayer funds have been gifted to these folks, but until 2025 they are under no obligation to do anything. These are the owners and managers of our meat and dairy farms. No doubt there will be some scientific innovations downstream, but the only solution currently available is to vastly reduce the number of cows and sheep.

So, I remain positive as to overcoming the climate crisis. Hopefully you also do and have made adjustments to your lifestyle to become part of the solution and not the problem.

I wish you well.

We must massively expand our national supply of electricity to accommodate 100 percent renewable energy, eliminating fossil fuels for transport, homes and industry.