The Ministry for the Environment has published a map which indicates predicted climate changes due to global warming.  Briefly, it is predicted that the far north and eastern half of New Zealand will be drier, the south and western half of both islands will be wetter and more prone to flooding, the snowline will rise but there may be more snow, westerly winds will be stronger, cyclones will increase in intensity, temperatures will be warmer and there will be less need for household heating, there will be better growing conditions for commercial forests but also likely to be more pests and weeds.

I decided to look and see if I could find evidence for these predictions occurring, and looked at weather-related insurance claims over time.

On Saturday 17th October, more than a hundred Hamiltonians showed their concern about global warming and climate change by taking part in a demonstration to mark the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the equivalent of 350 parts of CO2 per million.  Scientists represented by the International Panel on Climate Change predict that anything over 350 parts per million will lead to dangerous levels of climate change.  Our current greenhouse gas emissions are the equivalent of 395 parts per million.

Did you know that  the midsole of a trainer shoe can last up to 1000 years in a landfill? Think of all the shoes that get chucked each year. What a pile!

To read more about this go to: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10601263

The New Zealand Herald notes an innovative recycling scheme, which is good. But what that article made me think of is all the other things...

Conservation efforts often throw up difficult ethical questions and some are easier to answer than others. On a global scale the world is locked in arguments about climate change, tolerable levels of emissions, the extent of damage caused by human actions etc. On a regional scale we are facing additional crises in terms of resource and biodiversity depletion. We understand that human activity is responsible for many problems in the environment and we have many choices to make about resolution. At what point should human activity be constrained? Where should our efforts be focused and how strenuous should these efforts be? How do we make these choices and what principles should we rely upon to guide us?

Reflections contributed by Aggrey Thuo, PhD candidate, Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning.

Informal settlements are very important ‘transitional phenomenon’ and ‘conveyor belt’ that low-income people in most developing countries needs to survive in cities.  If there are no such settlements, then low-income people from the poverty stricken rural areas would never move/fit in to the city. Many may frown upon poor people migrating to the cities from the rural areas, but such attitude is misplaced. The comfort that cities offer should be treated as a common resource- or at least the greater opportunities- for every willing citizen to access.