Recent weeks have seen ecocide law reach the UN Security Council, the Vatican, and the climate COP’s opening ceremony. International law is now evolving to meet the crisis it should have prevented. Ecocide law was raised three times during the UN Security Council’s session on environmental impact of armed conflict and climate-driven security risks,...
We are facing a climate crisis. Yet many people seem to be relatively unconcerned about the risk. Why don’t they do more to prevent the looming outcome? One source of this inaction is our psychology. This talk looked at these psychological factors, such as the way we perceive risk and...
The Environmental Defence Society is urging caution following today’s announcement by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Resource Management Reform Minister Chris Bishop that local government is in for the biggest shakeup since 1989. The government is seeking feedback on a two-stage proposal for change. The first stage would see...
At COP 30, Cambodia’s Secretary of State, His Excellency Soung Sophorn, announced that his country would participate in this powerful global initiative. He said, “We believe its goals are essential to safeguarding our planet and protecting vulnerable communities. Cambodia stresses that developing countries cannot undertake this transition alone. We require...
Since July, 15 North Shore Express 1 buses have been fitted with bike racks, enabling cyclists to finally take the bus across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The bike racks are inside with the passengers. The same space is used for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and mobility scooters, otherwise, it fits nine standing...
In addition to the public meetings held in different parts of the city to outline PC 120, two webinars were presented and recorded, which you can find here, along with more information about the plan change, and how to make a submission. There is also a Central/East information session organised...
A resolution at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi has been successfully adopted by the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. For the first time, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has formally acknowledged the urgent gap in international governance for fossil fuel production. The...
The Environmental Defence Society has condemned the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill in its submission to the Environment Select Committee, warning that it will further weaken environmental safeguards, erode public participation, and undermine constitutional checks and balances. The Bill would give the Minister more influence in fast-track decisions, strip away environmental...
The 30th UN climate conference will take place from 6-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. It will bring together world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society to discuss priority actions to tackle climate change. COP30 will focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C,...
Carlile House, at 84-90 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, aka the Costley Training Institute (Former), a Category I Historic Place, is deteriorating further, with no resolution in sight. Built in 1886, the two-storey brick building in Classical-Italianate style has not been in use for decades. Following the closure of the Costley...