The climate change crisis is caused by our separation from nature
OPINION: Our climate change predicament is really a symptom of another, even more powerful crisis. The evolving 'climate imbalance' (perhaps a better term than climate change) is a reflection of a false sense of separation between us and the environment. This is the true root of the crisis, as understood by many indigenous traditions. We see ourselves as separate from nature. We think that the environment is a resource to be used to gratify our endless addiction to growth, at the expense of our biodiversity and ecosystems. Emission reductions and climate change adaptation are urgently needed. But those alone won't be sufficient, unless we change the way we think, and address the true root of the crisis. READ MORE: * Climate of change: Big business sets up decarbonisation funds * City bankers forego afternoon tea in pursuit of innovative climate change solution * Climate change 101: The most important things to understand about this urgent problem Our biodiversity, our healthy and thriving biosphere, is absolutely essential for the climate solution. Fragile ecosystems such as wetlands, for example, help regulate the climate via naturally absorbing carbon. Yet, more than 90 per cent of these ecosystems have been destroyed or modified in New Zealand alone, and the trend continues unabated. And wetlands are just one of many possible examples of invisible climate connections. Unless we address the climate crisis holistically, dealing with the biosphere as an interconnected living organism that helps regulate its own climate naturally, the climate imbalance will continue to grow. As such, the highly sought 'climate solutions' should really come from outside the business as usual mentality paradigm that created the problem in the first instance. We need long-term solutions dealing with the deeply ingrained causes of the problem, thinking outside of the square. Unless we change the way we think, and develop a spiritual connection with the planet, the world and the climate will remain out of balance. Our biodiversity, our balanced, diverse and healthy ecosystems, goes hand in hand with the climate. Different countries are starting to realise that indigenous views of wellbeing and connectivity with the environment can, and should, become a part of this 'natural solution'. Almost every indigenous culture appreciates that the health of the environment is crucial for our own wellbeing, including Maori, Native Americans and Aborigines. If every human being treated the planet as we would treat our grandmothers with a sense of respect and nurturing for her wellbeing - we would easily solve the problem. A key point here is that widespread pollution and environmental degradation are not just a social wellbeing or biodiversity issue: as mentioned earlier, they are also affecting the ability of the planet to self-regulate its own climate. In fact, the whole biodiversity that has always sustained our hunger for growth, at the expense of the environment, is now hugely compromised. If the soils, vegetation and ecosystems lose their capacity to naturally absorb and store carbon, the climate may continue to change even with emissions reduction. To increase complexity, some of the proposed mitigation and adaptation strategies may be harmful for the environment and biodiversity. If we plant the wrong type of trees in the wrong places, and build retaining walls where we shouldn't, we might make the problem worse in the long-term. Even though the climate crisis requires an urgent solution, this doesn't give us the right to ignore the big picture. In fact, we now have an incredible opportunity to address our addiction to growth, and change the way we think. One of the most remarkable examples of this climate-biodiversity synergy is in the peatlands, which are a type of wetland occurring in many countries. They are critical for preserving biodiversity, they can provide safe drinking water, they minimise flood risk and, at the same time, they are one of the largest natural terrestrial carbon stores. Recent research by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature shows that worldwide peatlands store more carbon than all other types of vegetation combined . The other side of the story, is that when they are damaged or drained, they may become a major source of greenhouse gas emissions . According to official statistics, we only have less than 10 per cent of the original wetlands still remaining in New Zealand (less than 3 per cent in the Wellington Region). Worldwide, about half of all wetlands on the planet have been destroyed since 1900 , according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Clearly, we are failing to provide our best natural climate solution. Many people feel overwhelmed by the enormity and complexity of the climate change challenge. It's common to feel that we are too small to make any difference. But we have a 'natural solution' right in our backyard, namely our own environmental wellbeing, our own biodiversity which goes hand in hand with the climate. This can empower us to re-gain our spiritual connection to nature, amalgamating a powerful indigenous culture contribution into our western mentality. And this can promote real change, because it is what we do locally, and how we see us and the environment, that really matters. We need solutions that will help restore a long-lost sense of identity; that will remind us that we're all guardians of the natural world. For this to work, communities and local governments all over the world will need to be on the same side, helping bring about a powerful new vision of the future. It shouldn't be too difficult to be 'on the same side' when we drop the sense of separation, and realise that we are all part of the climate solution: that everything that we do to protect and restore our local ecosystems will eventually add up, and give a strong global contribution. A good example is the carbon farming concept, in which peatlands can be regarded as a key component of an integrated farming ecosystem . Such a system is a component of the UK's long-term environment plan, and is already being envisaged by some as a probable 'farming for the future' model in the decades ahead. The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges that science has ever faced. The pressure to provide a solution is affecting virtually every sector of every society. But if we want a long lasting solution, we must address the fallacy of the sense of separation between us and the environment, and not let this clutter our mentality any further. We need to regain our emotional and spiritual connection to the natural world from a place within the heart, not just the mind. When we do that, wellbeing will come naturally, and our addiction to growth at the expense of the environment will automatically disappear. On March 15, the same day as the tragic Christchurch events, students from all over the world went on strike in many countries, to march for climate action. The young are waking up to the fact that there's no planet B: that we must respect the Earth, and be its true guardians, if we are to have a future of harmony and prosperity for all. These young people are already freeing themselves from the false sense of separation. Their views are aligned with the indigenous people's perception of connectivity with the ecosystem. They are taking responsibility for their own future, showing that a healthy and thriving planet is the way forward. It is up to us to support them, and help bring the true climate solution. - Dr Alex Pezza is a senior climate scientist at Greater Wellington Regional Council, and an Adjunct Research Associate with Victoria University of Wellington