When we talk about the metacrisis, we aren't just dealing with a changing climate. We are tangled up in a web of connected breakdowns: an epidemic of loneliness, chronic anxiety, hyper-polarisation, fragile supply chains, extreme weather events, and a nagging sense that nobody knows who or what to trust anymore. The common thread running through … Continue reading Community as an antidote for climate chaos
Why electricity prices are rising — and what Australia shows us Electricity prices are one of the most immediate ways people experience the energy system. In New Zealand, prices have tended to rise over time, with periodic spikes linked to fuel constraints and dry conditions. Recent increases have been closely associated with declining gas supply … Continue reading Why electricity prices are rising and how to stabilise them
This is the second post on our Energy Future Series. New Zealand’s energy debate is often framed as a problem of shortage. But the deeper issue is not whether we have enough energy. it is whether we design the system to use it wisely. One of our greatest advantages is already built into our landscape … Continue reading Aotearoa’s advantage: How solar power protects our hydro lakes
Weeks after the government's announcement to build an LNG import terminal in Taranaki, the decision doesn't look good. The Israeli-U.S. war on Iran is exposing the risk of fossil fuel dependency. And here in Aotearoa the Lawyers for Climate Action are taking the government to court about deficiencies in climate policy. New Zealand is being … Continue reading Why LNG is the wrong solution for Aotearoa’s energy future
Last month, I submitted a formal objection to the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill (the Bill) to Parliament’s Environment Committee. What the Bill seeks to do is abolish the standalone Ministry for the Environment and absorb its functions into a consolidated mega-ministry dominated by housing, transport, infrastructure, and local government portfolios. … Continue reading Weakening Environmental Protection in the Middle of an Ecological Crisis – A Good Thing?