Over the last few weeks, I have published a number of articles in the media exploring topics such as energy transition, energy descent and food security from a systems lens. I am sharing them through this blog so that they can reach as a wide as possible audience. Here is the first, published on The Spinoff:
“We are all aware of the ambitious changes we need to make if we are to avert catastrophic and irreversible climate change. However, exactly what we need to do remains a confusing minefield which few of us have the time or energy to navigate.
Every day we hear of a new technology that promises to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or a space-based solar technology that will power millions of homes, or, conversely, we find out that what was touted as a solution yesterday is no longer one today.
But all this “complexity” is just a distraction from the simple reality that to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown we need to make fundamental changes to the way we live.”
You can continue reading ‘Why combatting climate change means embracing degrowth’ at The Spinoff.
envirohistory NZ 
fantastic work Catherine, this link gives more details on the reality of renewables for anyone interested https://surplusenergyeconomics.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/247-the-surplus-energy-economy-part-two/
I have lived or been present in societies during periods when those with power refuse to accept that there is any problem even though many citizens are suffering from the environmental and health effects caused the reality of the issue they, the power holders, deny, or obscure. Only when the powerful too or those who support them have their personal lives affected by the issue did change happen. I am wondering if what has been happening in and around Auckland might have this effect on some climate-change sceptics and those whose main intention is only to find ways to make it possible to retain the goals, life-styles and economic practices we have followed over the last 100 years. Not optimistic about it though,