Calls for action on climate change grows louder across the Bay

by By Sarah Cates
Sunday, May 26, 2019 5:35 PM

A small yet focused group of young men assembled at Clive Square on Friday.

They gathered to fight for a safer future – on a day when schools from across the globe joined in solidarity for the second Global School Strike for Climate.

In a letter to St John’s College Principal Paul Melloy, Isaac Powell, a member of St John’s College Environmental Group wrote: “We want people to know that the youth of New Zealand feel strongly about this problem as it will have a large effect on our lives”.

Isaac stressed to Mr Melloy that the shocking statistics can no longer be ignored. On the threshold of a global crisis, action is needed immediately.

“The statistics will only get worse if we don’t take action now. Changes are of the up-most importance, not just for humans but for everything that inhabits the Earth,” Isaac said.

This conscientious group would rather be in school, but they feel it’s their moral duty as humans to stand up.

“It would be fair to say that almost every problem the world has come across has been caused by the human race,” Isaac say.

Author David Wallace-Wells – who recently wrote a book titled ‘The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming’ – would agree with Isaac. In his book he highlighted that we have done more damage to the environment since the United Nations established its climate change framework in 1992 than we did in the millennia that preceded it.

David said, “We have done more damage to the environment knowingly, than we ever managed in ignorance”.

Feelings of ‘impending doom’ that people of all ages are experiencing can be paralysing. But rallying together, turning fear into positive action and accepting that we are in this together, can be empowering.

Hawke’s Bay Extinction Rebellion (XR) members Josie Mossman and Ryan Longley are determined to bring climate change action to the forefront in Hawkes Bay. XR is an international non-violent rebellion against the world’s governments for the criminal inaction on the ecological crisis.

Recently returned from London, Josie was motivated to set up a regional XR group in Hawkes Bay. Local writer Bruce Bisset and Josie joined forces and got the ball rolling.

Josie says, “The mood in the UK is fervent. What’s happening over there is incredible. Everywhere you look or go there are people talking about XR or there is something happening. Everybody is jumping in! We do have XR groups in the major centres of New Zealand, but I want to show the government that groups are forming throughout New Zealand”.

The momentum of global climate change action has gained velocity over the past 12 months. Josie believes this is because people are now seeing the impacts of climate change in real-time.

She says, “Just look out of the window! We are almost at the end of May and it’s like summer! The occurrence of major nature disasters has seen a huge shift in the public’s perception of climate change. There used to be the odd news story, but now extreme weather events have become regular news features. I think there is a world-wide feeling that we are running out time to make any real difference”.

Emotional responses from the highly respected Sir David Attenborough and primatologist Dr Jane Goodall have also helped provoke the general public into action. The message that global warming is causing irreversible harm has become a topic of conversation across all age groups.

Josie and Ryan encourage school age children to put their hands up in class and talk about climate change.

Ryan says, “The kids need to challenge the adults. It can be difficult to get reliable information. There’s so much out there and the void between reality and what the media portrays is huge. We feel its important kids are accurately informed. There was a time we felt we were above the effects of nature – but it’s clear now – we are not”.

The younger generation are taking an active stand, but many sectors of society, frustrated with political inertia, are also taking action.

Internationally renowned designer and life-long environmentalist David Trubridge joined the Clive Square protesters in support.

He said, “Everyday people need to attend rallies and protests. We have to stand up and get our voices heard. We can no longer pretend that climate change is not happening. For our own sense of moral right, we all need to do what can to reduce our carbon footprint”.

David feels the only way forward is for everyday people and the government to meet in the middle.

He says, “Action has got to be from both ends at the same time. On their own, bottom up or top down won’t work. Top down won’t happen if you haven’t got the support from the people and people won’t gain traction if there’s no support from government”.

David adds, “The real problem is big business. They don’t give a shit. Until we can start forcing governments to change big business, they won’t stop. They are evil. Big business knowingly destroys the environment. All they want to do is keep making more money while they can. We are still subsidising the fossil fuel industry! The only way we can stop this is to put pressure on our governments”.

David feels it’s important we remain hopeful, but we all need to make those individual life changes.

“You may think making small changes to your carbon footprint will not help. But it’s the total sum of these inputs that add up. Simple things like changing your diet, reducing the amount the use your cars, buy an electric car if you can. There are many things we can all do,” he says.

Demands from XR include that governments tell the truth about the ecological crisis and that they adapt an emergency response to climate change and the ecological crisis.

With our local body elections around the corner Hawkes Bay Regional Council - Councillor Paul Bailey urges voters to research the candidates.

He says, “Voters should ask candidates questions around how they feel about climate change and what they would like see done. Some of the local body politians that I have dealt with over the last three years are still sceptical towards climate change, they assume the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. Ask the important questions and vote!”