Signatory News

The electric revolution has begun, moving silently through the city’s streets, writes Tom McKinlay.

While some despair about the fate of our planet, award-winning climate scientist James Renwick says it is never too late to take action – and seizing the moment may require a new “moonshot moment” for the 21st century.

If you find yourself grasped by a sense of fatalism regarding the existential threat posed by climate change, James Renwick has some good news – we can always stop things from getting worse.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has today announced an ambitious plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

It is the first New Zealand university to release a comprehensive emissions management plan towards a net carbon zero future integrated with teaching, learning, and research opportunities. The plan includes a 20 percent reduction in gross greenhouse emissions.

An all-women group of tradies will help the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust build a “Climate Safe House” at the Home and Living Show, to be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium on 2-3 November.
The house is the brainchild of the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust, and is a result of a partnership with Otago Polytechnic.

Beer drinkers can now save the planet with New Zealand’s first carbon neutral brew.

Christchurch-based craft brewery The Fermentist is the first in the country to receive an Enviro-Mark Solutions carboNZero certification for its Kiwi Pale Ale (KPA).

And it’s aiming for the title of New Zealand’s first carbon neutral brewery next year.

Weaning New Zealand’s primary sector off fossil fuels could cost the industry and the agri-sector hundreds of millions of dollars.

Auckland Transport (AT) is buying New Zealand’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus – and it will be built right here in New Zealand.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says, “Transport emissions account for 47 per cent of Auckland’s total carbon emissions, so it’s critical that we transition to a clean transport system as quickly as possible.”

“This trial of hydrogen-powered buses is another important step towards reducing carbon emissions in Auckland, so we can hold climate heating to the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees.”

One of New Zealand’s leading tourism operators, Ngāi Tahu Tourism, has installed its second electric vehicle charger into Takapō (Tekapo), helping to expand the nation’s EV charging network.

Ecostore will be among the first in Australasia to go carbon-neutral by Christmas.

The environmentally-friendly home and body care company achieved carboNZero certification for its manufacturing plant back in 2010.

A strategy to tackle traffic in south Auckland has reduced CO2 emissions by over 800 tonnes in other parts of the region.

Auckland Transport will introduce “dynamic lanes” to Redoubt Road in Manukau, with work starting in October.

Dynamic lanes use overhead signs and road lights to change the direction of traffic flow during peak periods.

Otago Polytechnic staff and students will participate in the Strike 4 Climate on Friday 27 September.
Climate strike organisers have asked individuals and organisations to join with school students in making their voices heard on the issue – and Otago Polytechnic has risen to the challenge.

It’s described by many as the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced. So where do we even start with tackling the seemingly impossible problem of climate change and its flow-on impacts?

A Victoria University of Wellington academic who is rising to the challenge is sociologist Jonathan Oosterman, who’s researching the kinds of radical adjustments New Zealand society needs to make to deal with the wider effects of climate change.