Let's keep doing our part to battle climate change, Aotearoa
OPINION: Are we coming close to the end of the world as we know it? From the Mayan prophecy to Nostradamus and right up until today, prophets, scientists, writers and conspiracy theorists have predicted the end of the world. The apocalypse scenario speaks of the degeneration of the earth, and thats where we are potentially heading with climate change and global warming. The NZ journey with climate change started in the eighties when temperatures soared across America, causing widespread droughts. READ MORE: * Council adopts 'five star' climate plan, establishes governance for strategic framework * With time running out on climate change, investors force companies to act * Climate change is an issue that deserves more than hollow promises * Govt responding urgently to climate change With climate change on the world's agenda, we promised to play our part in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The political football started between the people who hoped to reduce GHG emissions and supporters of business-as-usual proponents, consisting of prominent industries, their leaders and coalitions. The high emitters of GHG, such as the power industries, stepped up the lobbying to try prevent regulatory control by governments. Efforts to introduce carbon tax were effectively thwarted. After a 20-year struggle between politicians, scientists, industrialists and activists, New Zealand adopted and ratified the Kyoto Protocol, committing us to GHG emission reduction targets. This set us on our way to do our part in the fight against climate change. As temperatures rise, the physical climate hazards become more intense , occurring more frequently, and causing more harm and destruction to our habitat. New Zealands emissions of GHGs are only 0.17 per cent of the gross emissions of the world but the per capita or per person emissions remain high. This becomes even more significant when it comes to consideration of the type of GHG emissions. Agricultural emissions, such as methane , will trap more heat than carbon dioxide over the short-term. And whether its the sheer force of destruction through the intensity and frequency of climate change or its impact on communities that are already disadvantaged, climate change's effects are a known threat to health. Deaths occur due to high temperatures or extreme events, such as bushfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes and other natural disasters. They cause changes in the way infectious diseases behave, just as we have seen with Covid-19 and its unpredictable nature. Climate change also threatens the security of our food and water sources. It creates huge uncertainties in our economy and livelihoods. Without these resources, we compromise further our ability to combat disease and nurture good health. And climate change affects us unequally: Some of us are privileged, while others are born disadvantaged and grow up in poverty. Older people, people with existing chronic diseases and mobility challenges, the poor and isolated, indigenous populations, people of colour and many others have daily struggles with life. Wider forces and circumstances shape their lives and place them at a disadvantage right from the beginning. The impacts of climate change are most severe on people who are least capable to adapt to them and, ironically, have the lowest carbon footprint. The existing status of these disadvantaged people does not enable them to have control over or improve their health. But all is not lost. The hard work, grit and determination of New Zealand is starting to pay off. We are achieving the steps required to manage climate change. The Climate Change Commission has given recommendations to the government. They have suggested demonstration paths and steps in seven sectors to limit global warming to within 1.5C till the year 2050. The dreaded carbon tax mooted in the nineties has now been in existence for more than a decade in the form of emissions pricing and units for all sectors except pastoral agriculture. The pricing mechanism for pastoral agriculture is well on its way. The ministers for climate change and agriculture are expected to soon release a report for a system in pricing agricultural emissions at farm level. This would bring certainty and raise confidence of farmers to take initial steps for emission reduction. We are Aotearoa, New Zealand Through its arduous journey to help combat climate change, we have taken the lead. Its the dream of a small nation with big ambitions and a proud history of green activism. So, are we coming close to the end of the world as we know it? No, the end of the world is not near but if we dont play our part in climate change, the world as we know it will definitely change. The health of people, but especially those with lower socioeconomic status, will deteriorate. The health inequity gap will worsen between the "haves" and "have nots". But, we are Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are fair and we want to be equitable. Lets do our part. Stuff Nation