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1 Kaitiakitanga
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Kaitiakitanga
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What is resilience?
“The capacity of a system to
absorb disturbance and
reorganise while undergoing
change, so as to still retain
essentially the same function,
structure, identity and
feedbacks”
Transition Network Who we are, what we do
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At the extreme end of the scale… • To paraphrase Forrest Gump: “Disaster
happens”
• In recent history, NZ has experienced major
loss of life in natural disasters including volcanic
eruptions (Tarawera 1886), earthquakes (Napier
1931), storms (Wahine sinking, Wellington
1968) and Canterbury Earthquakes (2010-12)
• Other emergencies: drought, water shortages,
power outages, fires, floods, landslides and
hazardous chemical spills cause economic loss,
disrupt lives and often take years for recovery.
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E.g: Coastal storms at high tide.
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And at the other end…
• Disaster that creeps up on you, from:
– Seasonal climate changes, leading to failed harvests
– Agricultural intensity, leading to erosion and soil
nutrient loss. (Soil forms slowly but can erode fast)
– Watercourse pollution and loss of clean aquifers
– Overpopulation and stress on limited resources
– Industrial and traffic air pollution and its health effects
– Biodiversity loss, as our appetite for land crowds out
other species
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But – disaster is not inevitable • It is possible with existing technology, to halve or quarter
industrial resource consumption. Reducing the costs of
input material and waste disposal has dollar incentives.
• Industry and retailer change is led by customer interest.
When you seek products that do less damage to the
environment, it promotes their wider availability in NZ.
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Activity
• In pairs, identify 3 civil defence ‘hazards’
most likely to affect life locally?
• Then, which of these may be most
damaging to home or health?
• Finally: What could you do to be better
informed on hazards and realistic about
risks?
Are you prepared?
• Try the checklist in the learning guide –
what’s your score?
• Think about an emergency plan.
• Look up your district Civil Defence info on
the districts page: http://www.sustainableliving.org.nz/SLP/Councils
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Activity 4 • What are your resources? (Print & use the set of
cards – each small group is dealt some )
• How resilient might you be in an emergency? (see learning guide for suggested scenario, or make one to reflect local hazards)
• Barter your resources and share your skills with other groups. What else might be needed? (you might devise extra cards)
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Ranginui
Papatuanuku
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Climate Change
• The average temp in NZ could rise between 1.4 and 3 degrees in the next 100 years…
• Sea levels will rise 30 to 50cm by 2100.
• Severe storms, floods and droughts.
• More rain likely in the west, less in the east, greater risk of severe winds and storms.
• Decreased number of frost days in the lower North Island and the South Island, and more hot days where air temperatures exceed 25°C, especially in the north of the North Island.
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Projected Temperatures in 2080
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Projected rainfall in 2080
Summer Winter
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Moana
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Sea level rise – Auckland vs global
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Water leaving ice stores…
Summer melting of Greenland ice sheet edges
The media has noted that greater summer melt of arctic sea ice threatens bears
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Activity (5)
• Identify threats to
your community from
Climate Change
• What does that mean
for your lifestyle?
• What can
communities do to
help prepare for those
effects?
www.mfe.govt.nz
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Tane
Mahuta
Ngahere
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We’re Addicted to Oil!
• 95% of all transportation, whether by land, air or sea, is
fuelled by oil (fossil remains of plants once solar-powered)
• 95% of all goods in shops involve the use of oil
• 95% of all developed country food products require oil use
(US figures)
• The world consumes approx 84 million barrels of oil a day
(= approx 5,500 Olympic sized swimming pools)
• Compare 1990 global oil consumption at just 66 million
barrels a day.
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Peak Oil – it’s finite & getting costly!
• Annual finds have declined for years. No ‘easy’ liquid oil reserves left to find
• Production peaks 25-40 years after discovery peak in each region (chart below)
• 90% of all cheap liquid oil reserve discovered globally is now in production stage
• Other fossil fuels are expensive & messy to mine and convert to liquid fuel (e.g. fracking, tar shales)
Peaks in oil production 2005-08
www.energywatchgroup.org
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Transport futures? No ready transport substitute
- biofuels are energy and land use
intensive (displace food crops).
- hydrogen powered vehicles are
many years from mass
production & still need electricity.
- electric vehicles have range
limitations and have high energy
use/rare metals in manufacture.
- public transport, cycling and car
pooling are interim solutions, but
struggle for public acceptance.
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Road-space for same no. of travelers,
in different modes
One car each... One bus full.... Cycles
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Activity 6
• Apart from the long term rise in fuel prices
(despite geo-political shifts of price, which can
be down in the short term), what are the likely
threats to your current lifestyle from Peak Oil
production, combined with climate change
requiring global limits on carbon emission?
• What changes can you start making now and
envisage later: as an action plan? (see learning
guide)
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Future Living Skills - Sustainable Living
• This course is about human quality
of life, as well as the planet eco-
system’s survival.
• Now that we are more
knowledgeable, and perhaps
wiser, can we become ‘part of the
solution’ instead of part of the
problem?
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Sharing your experience
• Move beyond your own household, to
influence your community towards
sustainability:
– Talk to neighbours about composting
– Assist friends set up their veggie
gardens and share spare produce
– Lobby retailers to reduce packaging
– Contribute to submission writing to
local & central government on
transport, waste reduction or water...
Share any actions you have already
taken that led towards a positive
community outcome?
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Be Champions of Change
• We can make changes individually at home, but by reporting our ‘trial runs’ may be much more effective learners continuing as a group, sharing the experience and adapting.
• We are not only making positive changes for the environment, but also aim to save money and help our health!
• Be proactive – don’t wait for your neighbours, and then they may soon be following you!
• Take good ideas into workplaces.
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Others getting active in NZ
We can connect to other groups, like:
• Climate Change campaigners http://350.org.nz/about/350-aotearoa/
• Transition Towns www.transitiontowns.org.nz
• House design advisors www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz ;
• Energy advice http://www.communityenergy.org.nz/
• Rural Landcare Groups www.landcare.org.nz
• Permaculture Trust www.permaculture.org.nz
• Organic gardeners www.organicnz.org.nz
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Have fun doing the right thing!
• What direction can you take?
– Learn more, have your house energy-assessed
– Activate: join a group, lobby for policy improvement
– Urge your friends and family to take action, persuade
by good example
– Grow your own food, be resilient to food shortages
– Harvest solar energy and rain water, make your
home more resourceful
• L.A.U.G.H. and the world laughs with you!
