SUSTAIN

In the face of climate change, people around the world have developed innovative new technologies to mitigate or adapt to its impacts. Despite their work however, adoption has proved more difficult. How can we promote these potentially planet-saving innovations? Does it require a significant overhaul of current systems? Or can existing frameworks be adjusted by more minor tweaks? Dr Maria Armoudian speaks to Holly Beals, a strategic director and innovation specialist with Aurora Climate Lab; and Michael Fielding, the Chief Executive of AUT Ventures.

From the Antarctic to the deepest depths of the ocean, microplastics are found in increasingly large numbers. These tiny, seemingly inescapable plastics pose a range of threats to human health, animal life and the ecosystems on which we rely. How can we deal with this avalanche of microplastics? For more, Dr Maria Armoudian speaks to Professor Nathalie Gontard, research director at France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, formerly a professor at the Universities of Montpellier and Kyoto; and Dr Samantha Ladewig, a research fellow at the University of Auckland who studies the effect of microplastic pollution on marine environments.

Despite increasing signs of a climate in crisis, false information about this scientific reality continues to drive decision-making at the highest level, particularly in countries which have recently taken a turn towards authoritarianism. Who is spreading this false information, and how can we confront it? To find out more about this, Dr Maria Armoudian speaks to professors Eve Darian-Smith, of the University of California, Irvine; and Stuart McNaughton, of the University of Auckland.

Across the world, rising sea levels have become a pressing issue for coastal communities. Driven by our changing climate, sea level rise is already having a range of impacts, from increased flooding to the salinization of freshwater resources. To discuss this growing threat, Ben Goldson speaks to Professor Karin Bryan from the University of Auckland’s School of Environment; Professor William Glamore from the University of New South Wales’ School of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and Dr Richard Bulmer, the director of private consultancy group Tidal Research.

In recent years, thousands of lawsuits have been filed around the world by private individuals to NGOs and state governments in an attempt to force greater action on climate change through the legal system. They have taken their cases to both national and international courts with claims ranging from human rights to consumer protection. To find out more, Dr Maria Armoudian speaks to experts Dr Corina Heri from the University of Zurich and Sabrina Ashjian from UCLA, as well as Dr James Every-Palmer KC and Jenny Cooper KC, who are the co-founders of Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand.

On 13th September, Ngā Ara Whetū co-hosted a symposium on the challenges of inequality and environmental degradation with Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism, a research centre based in the Business School at the University of Auckland. Held in the Sir Owen G Glenn Building, the symposium saw experts discuss these twin challenges, drawing upon the work of French economist Thomas Piketty. Chairing the second session was Associate Professor Dan Hikuroa (Māori Studies), with the second panel featuring talks by Professor Emilson Silva (Business School), Dr Lynn Riggs (Motu Research) and Dr David Hall (Social Sciences and Humanities).

On 13th September, Ngā Ara Whetū co-hosted a symposium on the challenges of inequality and environmental degradation with Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism, a research centre based in the Business School at the University of Auckland. Held in the Sir Owen G Glenn Building, the symposium saw experts discuss these twin challenges, drawing upon the work of French economist Thomas Piketty. Convened by Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart (Management and International Business), the first session saw a keynote address by the Honourable David Parker, the former Attorney-General, followed by talks from Professor Craig Elliffe (Law), Dean Susan Watson (Business School) and Council of Trade Unions Economist and Policy Director Craig Rennie.

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has outlined a plan for humanity to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Our cities aren’t going away, so how can we use biodiversity as a building block and work with indigenous technologies to take action? Pauline Herbst talks with international landscape designer and keynote speaker at the World Green Infrastructure Congress 2024, Julia Watson, to answer these questions.

With over half the global population living in urban centres, a number which is projected to rise to around two-thirds by 2050, the relationship between cities and the climate crisis is becoming increasingly important. How can we adjust the nature of urban spaces to both adapt to, and mitigate, the changing climate? Dr Maria Armoudian speaks with researchers from the University of Auckland's Future Cities Research Hub, including co-founder and director Paola Boarin, along with Dr Timothy Welch, Dr. Iresh Jayawardena, Dr Alessandro Premier and Dr Manfredo Manfredini.

Not for the first time, dairy farming and monoculture is in the international spotlight with regards to climate change. Farming is a big part of New Zealand's identity and its economy. So what are the alternatives? One suggestion is turning to what has been called the blue economy, our oceans, and in particular, aquaculture. Prof Andrew Jeffs, from the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Auckland and Clare Bradley, CEO of AgriSea talk to us about the latest research into seaweed farming in New Zealand, its potentially positive impacts on biodiversity, climate change and our coastal communities, and what we can learn from the history of on-land farming.