Where in the world are you?
Wellington, New Zealand What do you do in the world? Recent MSc graduate, studying atmospheric chemistry (now public sector bro working in mental health regulation). In one sentence, what is climate change? Perturbation of the earths climate system due to the unabated rise in anthropogenic-driven fossil fuel emissions. How does climate change affect your life? Aside from working in climate science; it is something I actively advocate for and educate others on. In terms of true physical effects, that is something future generations will feel the full brunt of (..why we need to act now). What do you feel you can do about it? Share my own knowledge to those with less of an understanding of the issue, making people realise everyone contributes in some way. Do you feel there is more you could do? If so, what is stopping you from doing those things? I am trying to learn how to communicate complicated scientific knowledge in a way that is more accessible - which is the most I feel I can personally do. What's your favourite Sunday afternoon activity? Going for a hike, getting a take away coffee (in my keep cup) and then going to the veggie market for the week's haul and getting a falafel wrap. Extra for experts: Do you remember how you first became active in climate change? Was there something specific that triggered you to act? How old were you then? How old are you now? I have always been very aware of environmental issues due to the influence of my greeny parents but it wasn't until my first year of uni (studying geology) where it became more apparent that not everyone cares about these issues, which triggered me to want to learn more and try and communicate what I felt to be extremely important to others. Where in the world are you?
Wellington, New Zealand What do you do in the world? Trainer In one sentence, what is climate change? The changing of weather systems due global warming. How does climate change affect your life? By making me worry. What do you feel you can do about it? Just my own little attempts to limit my impact on the world. Do you feel there is more you could do? If so, what is stopping you from doing those things? Joining an environmental group ... just deciding which one. What's your favourite Sunday afternoon activity? Falling asleep reading a book under a cat. Extra for experts: Do you remember how you first became active in climate change? Was there something specific that triggered you to act? How old were you then? How old are you now? Joined Greenpeace when 15 but climate change was only a part of the story. Now 52. Free space: write anything you like, nothing at all, or ask us a question The world seems to be currently going through one of its periodic swings to thinking there are easy answers to problems. Whilst scary in itself (the rise of the far right) this is particularly depressing when thinking about how to engage people in the non-easy problems of climate change. Where in the world are you?
Dunedin, New Zealand What do you do in the world? I'm the director of the Centre for Sustainability, a research centre of the University of Otago. In one sentence, what is climate change? Climate change is shorthand for the many environmental changes that are the result of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and includes warmer and rising seas, melting ice sheets and glaciers, more extreme weather events, changing weather patterns, and a hotter globe. How does climate change affect your life? It permeates my thinking all the time - how the actions of people today are shaping a devastatingly different future for my grandchildren. My city Dunedin will be the worst impacted by sea level rise in New Zealand, with around 10,000 people living in homes that are less than 50cm above sea level. The impacts are already starting to be seen here with warmer winters and more extreme weather. What do you feel you can do about it? It's part of my work - I do research on how people and businesses change to adopt lower-carbon energy and mobility - see http://energycultures.org/. Also I was one of the authors of a recent report for the Royal Society of New Zealand "Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy for New Zealand". In my own life, I try to make low-carbon choices - walk to work, eat vegetarian food, heat our home with renewable fuel, and drive a (small and old) hybrid car. Do you feel there is more you could do? If so, what is stopping you from doing those things? I'd like to have a fully electric car, because in NZ our electricity is 80% renewable, so this means minimal GHG emissions. Retrofitting our hybrid to fully electric is the next plan. One thing I would like to do is to fly less, but my work (ironically) involves quite a lot of flying, and at present we are not able to offset the emissions. I'd like to rectify this. What's your favourite Sunday afternoon activity? Going for a walk up a steep track that starts a couple of kilometres from my home, and goes up 1000 feet into alpine vegetation with a glorious view of the city and mountains. |
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