EBCRN is focussed on the need to act now to both mitigate the causes of accelerating climate change as well as prepare for the impact on our community. You can find out more about Eastbourne and the Network here.

If you have climate related events, resources, requests, suggestions or any other information you would like to share please send it to us.

Some of the events listed here (marked G) come via the excellent Glean Report - Science and knowledge events in New Zealand. Free to subscribe.

Consultation

Inquiry into climate adaptation

Public submissions are now being called for the Environment Committee's Inquiry into climate adaptation.

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 01 November 2023

Have your say on the Inquiry into climate adaptation.

The Environment Committee Komiti Whiriwhiri Take Taiao has initiated an inquiry into climate adaptation, and is calling for public submissions. 

Terms of reference for the select committee inquiry (issued 24 August 2023)

For the purpose of its inquiry, the committee is particularly interested in:

The current approach to community-led retreat and adaptation funding, its strengths, risks and costs

• Lessons learned from severe weather events and natural disasters in Aotearoa New Zealand for community-led retreat and funding climate adaptation
• Effective mechanisms for community-led decision making
• The role of the private sector in managing climate risk
• Potential institutional arrangements, including roles and responsibilities of central and local government agencies, iwi and hapu
• Māori participation, Crown obligations, and how to best give effect to the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi, and integrate matauranga Māori and te ao Māori across the adaptation system
• Alignment and integration with existing legislation and regulatory framework, including the reformed resource management system and any changes needed to regulatory powers and potential economic or other incentives needed to support adaptation actions (both before and after extreme events)
• Funding sources, access to them and principles and criteria for cost sharing
• Targets or indicators for assessing progress to more resilient communities and infrastructure.

Have your say on the Inquiry into climate adaptation.

Mike Joy talk: Future of Food and Energy

A video of Mike's talk and slides is now available - it's long, so don't forget you can skip forward/back, pause, show captions, and even watch in stages.

Watch video : Future of Food and Energy

Note details of Beyond Growth Aotearoa Conference (16-17 Sept. online) below - including suggestions on practical action we can take.

Coming up

Flourishing futures: Conversations on important issues – It's the end of the world as we know it. This week's discussion, “It’s the end of the world as we know it”, will focus on the climate crisis – civilisation collapse? A post-carbon sustainable future? Tuesday, 29 August 2023, 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul | Te Wharekarakianui o Paora Tapu ki te Whanganui-a-Tara, 2 Hill Street, Wellington

Images of the future: daily life in a world governed by AI. A conference *IN PERSON* (G)

Tue 29 August 8:00 - 17:15 Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro More information Add To Calendar

Me Tū ā-Uru: united in right relationships to each other and the environment. (G) A webinar by Maria Bargh, Carwyn Jones and Ellie Tapsell *ONLINE* 

Tue 29 August 10:30 - 11:30 More informationAdd To Calendar

Download ICS Google Calendar iCalendar Office 365 Outlook Live

Re-food – A healthy approach to Aotearoa’s troubled food system ~ Emily King, Food Systems Expert - 10:30-11:30am, Weds 6 Sept. 2023

In this webinar, Emily King will speak to her recently published book Re-food.  Emily advocates for a food systems approach to Aotearoa New Zealand’s troubled food networks – one that takes into account the full paths and processes from the farm to the family table.

The book looks at the best path forward to address challenges we face with soils, waterways, climate change, food waste, packaging, unhealthy diets and a lack of access to food. Written in three parts: Grow, Make and Nourish, Re-food traverses the food system and unpacks its issues along the way while providing timely and relevant ideas and inspiration for readers to solve these problems. It also offers tools, insights and mindset changes that chart a path towards a healthier, more sustainable food future, one which incorporates Te Ao Māori and our strengths as a top quality food producing nation.

The design and implementation of managed retreat: policy lessons from the United States. (G) A seminar by Gavin Smith *IN PERSON or ONLINE*

Thu 14 September 12:40 - 14:00 Lecture Theatre One (GBLT1), Old Government Buildings, VUW Add To Calendar

Beyond Growth Aotearoa, The benefits of planned degrowth.

“The old world is dying and a new world is struggling to be born” - Antonio Gramsci 

Following the successful European Beyond Growth 2023 Conference, we are ready to continue this kōrero in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This interactive event will provide a forum to share the latest knowledge and insights related to ecological economics, resource scarcity and the planned response measures that could be taken to strengthen resilience and maximise future opportunities. 

Day 1 will cover opportunities and challenges at a systems level, Te Ao Māori perspectives, government policy and business strategies.

Day 2 will explore practical action drawing on community, local government and ethical, circular business perspectives.  

There will be opportunities to network with experts, peers, and decision-makers faced with similar challenges. Zero-waste catering will be provided but we encourage all participants to BYO drink bottles and coffee cups.  

A degrowth ticketing system is in place to ensure equity for all event attendees. If you can, please consider a pay-it-forward ticket allowing someone a free or subsidised place.  

Dates & times: Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September, 10am-5pm 

Online and in person: Location: Rutherford House, 33 Bunny Street, Pipitea Victoria University, Wellington.

For more information, including programme outline, visit the Degrowth Aotearoa (DANZ) website.

Future thinkers: a future for biomaterials in construction. (G) A panel discussion *IN PERSON*

Tue 5 September 5:45 - 8:00 Lecture Theatre 1, Faculty of Architecture and Design 139 Vivian Street, Te Aro Campus More information Add To Calendar

CLIMATE FICTION AND CLIMATE FUTURES Climate change is here and it’s real. What are the challenges and responsibilities of writers to tell stories in a climate-changed world? MahMah Timoteo, Bronwyn Hayward and Erik Kennedy discuss the role of writers in the face of climate change with Melanie Dixon. What stories should we be telling and why? How can we strike a balance between hope and disaster? And how can writers make a positive impact in a world with an increasingly gloomy future? Thursday 24th August 5:30-6:30

Registrations are open for Clean Up Week 2023 16-22 September. Registered community groups receive free kits and badges and disposal of the litter collected is free. https://www.knzb.org.nz/programmes/clean-new-zealand-beautiful/clean-up-week/

Note: we create this newsletter "on the fly" as information and events come to our attention. Sometimes short notice of event dates mean the event passes before we send this out, so each email may be triggered but an upcoming event rather than a reasonable interval since the last release. Please feel free to give feedback on content and frequency of news, and send through items you might feel are of interest to the group.

You can forward this to someone if they would like to  join the Eastern Bays Climate Response Network and/or subscribe to the email updates