Book review: Kiwis in Climate

Even the most hardened sceptics are struggling to find a reason for some of the planet's recent changes that can't be explained by climate change. 2024 was the hottest year on record globally, weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, flora and fauna changes like the Marlborough salmon dying and coral reefs bleaching are becoming more commonplace, and nearly half of the 40 billion tonnes of CO2 we emit every year are lingering in our atmosphere and oceans effectively forever. 

It's a bit of a gloomy concept, but it's one we have the power to change, and in this book, some of New Zealand's most authoritative voices on climate change and cultural leadership share stories of progress, and offer practical solutions for climate action.

Editor Tessa Vincent is a London-based Kiwi who is the Policy & Engagement Lead for UN-backed company Race to Zero, a UN-backed campaign for businesses, finance, cities and more committed to halving emissions by 2030. For Kiwis in Climate: Voices for Climate Solutions in Aotearoa New Zealand, she reached out to 30 experts, including climate scientist Jim Salinger, sustainability experts Izzy Fenwick and Carolyn Mortland, climate change and indigenous rights advocate Kaeden Watts and many others, to explore what we are doing now - and what we need to be doing - to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Each different voice in the book, from politicians and business leaders to farmers and scientists, provides a different outlook on why we need to look at how each of us can do our bit to create a cleaner, safer future for New Zealand and the world in general.

Different sections of the book will appeal to different people, but the message is clear from every contributor: we can all do something, whether it's educating kids, investing in profitable climate technology, revegetating local areas or raising the issue with politicians and government. Together we have a strong voice - and this book is a great place to start.

"Like forests, human communities are deeply entangled with land, waterways and the ocean. In te ao Māori, this is captured in the idea of tangata whenua - literally, land people, who inhabit a particular place. If we think like a forest, we can learn to work with these other living systems so we all thrive and flourish together." - Dame Anne Salmond

Kiwis in Climate is out this month, with launches across New Zealand, including in Parliament. Click on the link to find out more on how to get tickets, or how to join virtual conversations on Zoom from April to July.