Newsletter July 2026
Tena koutou katoa
Our response to Simon Watt’s climate planning letter to local councils
August Webinars
Dear Member/Supporter
Climate minister Simon Watts has sent a letter to Mayors, Chairs and Chief Executives “regarding the use of climate change assumptions in council planning….”
It betrays a curious mixture of alarm, semi-denial and contradiction. His primary aim appears to be to prevent councils from being influenced by the latest “worst-case” predictions of the IPCC. He fears that this could result “in unnecessary costs being imposed on ratepayers, businesses and communities.”
“Unnecessary”, in the face of more storms?
“Worst-case assumptions”, he writes, should not become “the default basis for investment decisions….”
IPCC scientists use evidence to make two broad predictions – one for what is most likely to happen and another warning of a worst-case scenario. Evidence shows that this is a shifting scale. What was considered to be the most likely effects of global heating has taken over the worst case slot, leaving the world facing the possibility of a worse worst-case future.
This is the result of recent studies that have indicated that climate sensitivity to GHG emissions is greater than previously understood. This means that actual climate impacts have accelerated over time. In other words, things are getting worse faster than previously believed.
Our Climate Declaration’s Jack Santa Barbara comments:
“It is also the case that the intermediate scenarios between most likely and worst-case would be devastating for human wellbeing, resulting in disaster-related deaths, mass migration and massive damage to human infrastructure.”
Yes, Watts urges councils to plan for climate change but he exhorts them to “use a range of credible climate scenarios when assessing infrastructure and planning decisions.”
Which scenarios, one must ask, does he find credible?
His urgings appear to perpetuate the myth that expenditure is a binary choice between climate responses and other works - when that need not be the case. Abundant evidence shows that the two can frequently be combined in synergistic ways, giving better value than if either were addressed singly.
Energy and transport sectors are examples. Moreover many effective adaptation actions bring co-benefits, such as the improvements to health brought by the cleaner air as the number of EVs increases.
Climate impacts are already imposing massive, escalating costs - costs that could have been avoided had earlier planning been adequate. Let’s not perpetuate this inadequacy but encourage strong investment in well-targeted responses and avert worse consequences.
Watts reminds those charged with spending our rates and taxes and keeping us safe that many parts of the country already face “significant infrastructure challenges”.
One way or another we could be in for hard times. The OCD Team urges you to follow up the Minister’s letter with your own council. It’s accessible on the link below.
Our Climate Declaration - Upcoming Webinars
Wednesday, 12 August, 7.00 pm
Julie Haggie, Executive Director of Transparency International New Zealand, will discuss How Accountable Are Our Politicians? Julie will examine political accountability, transparency, and the systems that help ensure good governance.
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82032241655?pwd=3zBq3ib0ImISOTbBo3cxzuPE0fN8mp.1
Wednesday, 26 August, 7.00 pm
Simon Wright, Chair of Trust Democracy will present Making a Trusted Democracy: How Can Deliberative Democracy Help? Simon will explore the role that deliberative democracy can play in strengthening trust, participation, and confidence in our democratic institutions.
Note: This webinar was originally scheduled for 5 August, but it was postponed to 26 August.
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84946984615?pwd=nlQYbYZ58QeaabyVKhrVgc3WbHKkSO.1
Looking Ahead
We are also putting together a series of webinars featuring spokespersons from a range of New Zealand political parties. These sessions will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the parties on key climate and policy issues in the lead-up to the election.
We’re currently confirming speakers and dates, and we’ll share the full programme as soon as it’s finalised.
Join us
We need friends with inspiration, a passion for the future and some time to devote to behind-the-scenes work. We meet for about an hour by ZOOM every three weeks, but in between, we plan, and share ideas and information by email.
Join us, as an observer at our 3-weekly meetings. Email us at info@ourclimatedeclaration.org.nz so we can send you the link.