New Zealand could be an inspiration to other nations as far as sustainability is concerned, says a leading climate researcher.
In a big week for environmental activism, Victoria University’s Professor James Renwick spoke to a large crowd on campus about the changes the world is experiencing on a global scale.
“If all the little players banded together, we could have as big an impact as larger countries like China and the United States,” he said.
“It isn’t going to be easy, but if we get on with it, it can be done and it will pay major dividends in the future.”
A specialist in large-scale climate variations, Professor Renwick received last year’s NZ Prime Minister’s Prize of Communication.
He said the climate was changing on a global scale, with the biggest impacts being extreme events, loss of sea life, increased prevalence of forest fires, and heat waves.
He also pointed out that the political climate around the issue was changing as well.
“Millions of people around the world are marching in the streets and we do need more urgent action,” he said. “This is how it happens.
“The atmosphere is in a state that humanity has never experienced before. The world is changing and all ecosystems are affected everywhere. What happened in the past is no longer relevant.
“The future for humanity is hard to read. Consequences are unpredictable but will lead to cascading impacts on things like food security and water supply.”
He said implications for food supply were dire towards the end of the century if no changes occurred.
“We could end up in a famine, with billions of people not having enough food. That’s not a future I want to know about.
“Ideally, we should get to zero emissions by 2050, with a 50 per cent reduction by 2030.
“Future risks depend on global action and we are the ones in control. The climate isn’t going to reach a runaway state, but the more warming that happens, the more damage will be done. We can change the future and make it a lot brighter.”
Asked after his talk how he saw the future in Canterbury in terms of land use, he said it should return to the way it used to be before intensification of dairy farming in the region.
“We need more crops, more grains, less red meat, less cattle. A more diversified, less intensive approach is needed.”
He also suggested that moving towards a more plant-based diet could have positive implications for the future of the planet.
Professor Renwick was introduced by Lincoln University climate expert, Associate Professor Anita Wreford, who was the only New Zealand co-author on the recently-released report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.