Climate change news prominent again Click a picture to enhance it. Blue text = a clickable linkClimate change is prominent in my news headlines every day. A number of reasons are keeping it there just now. First - Huge floodsExtensive, disruptive unprecended floods on our North Island East Coast and in several other regions are prompting continual debate about how climate change is the cause. Because the devestation will take weeks, months and even years to overcome, climate change will continue to be a discussion point. Second - IPCC Synthesis ReportThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its so called Synthesis Report on the 20th of March – just a day or two ago. Introducing it, this is what Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a dramatic call to climate action: 'Dear friends, humanity is on thin ice – and that ice is melting fast. 'As today’s report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) details, humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. 'The rate of temperature rise in the last half century is the highest in 2,000 years. 'Concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest in at least 2 million years. 'The climate time-bomb is ticking. 'But today’s IPCC report is a how-to guide to defuse the climate time-bomb. 'It is a survival guide for humanity. As it shows, the 1.5°C limit is achievable. But it will take a quantum leap in climate action. 'This report is a clarion call to massively fast-track climate efforts by every country and every sector and on every timeframe. 'In short, our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.' Third - Water conferenceThe UN press office said in its report for Wednesday 22 March that Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, speaking at the opening of the Water Conference that morning: 'reminded us that water is humanity’s lifeblood, but it is in deep trouble. We are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, he said, and we are evaporating it through global heating. He highlighted four key areas to accelerate progress. First, the Secretary-General said, we need to close the water management gap. He called on Governments to develop and implement plans that ensure equitable water access for all people while conserving this precious resource. Then, he said, we need massive investments in water and sanitation systems. Third, we also need efforts to focus on resilience, because we cannot manage this 21st century emergency with infrastructure from another age. And fourth, the Secretary-General said climate action and a sustainable water future are two sides of the same coin.' Will the calls be heard?"Everything, everywhere all at once" is a bold call. So is the call to ensure that all peoples have access to clean drinking water without having to walk long distances, sometimes across national borders. The Secretary General's call is aimed at governments but wider populaces need to hear it too, in order to urge and support those governments. Other waysTaking the opportunity given by there being many New Zealanders at present facing questions about climate change, my church, Ngaio Union Church, last evening offered to the local community, seven short climate change play readings by award winning playwright, Angie Farrow. I especially liked Door to Door. Evie and Meru are ardent door to door climate change advocates who want to persuade the community to save a local wetland. Their cold calling is unproductive until they visit a well heeled property where the charming male owner invites Evie in to talk further. Later the angry Meru finds the wetlands have been taken over by a trust in Evie's name. Was the cold calling successful? Yes or no? Chance or ploy? Perhaps there is more than one way of talking to people about climate change. Perhaps it doesn't have to be angry bullets from afar. I certainly enjoyed this well conceived, cleverly presented evening. It exhibited humour– lots of it– and seriousness. Absurdity came alongside sense. Fact nudged fiction.
Will those who were present, be better able to talk to their friends, family and colleagues about the "clarion call to massively fast-track climate efforts." I hope so. □
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