Climate Matters 153
A satirical take on the Conservation Amendment Act (Submit on it by 2nd July), two more Front-footing the Future interviews, can you believe it: two from the "can you believe it files"?! And more.
In CM 153 you’ll find:
Quiz question
Another great graphic from ClimateTrunk.
“The Coalition Strip Show:” the disastrous Conservation Amendment Bill
From the “Can you believe it?” files 1: antibiotic resistance.
Front-footing the Future expert guest Dr Mike Joy
From the “Can you believe it?” files 2: changing how the world smells.
“Heated” lifts the climate lid on the Football World Cup.
Front-footing the Future expert guest Prof Colin Butler
Let’s stop NZ becoming the scrap yard for the automobile industry.
A picture is worth a thousand words…
We’ve referenced John Lang‘s great graphics before in CM. John has recently launched the Climate Trunk educational platform and here’s a 1000-word equivalent from that (he includes written explanations too!). Have a think about where the toboggan we’re on is heading. (FFTF interview with John from the 8th August).
Quiz
What is a proboscis extension response test, and what is its connection to climate? Answer: See can you believe it 2.
Have a serious laugh then object to the Conservation Amendment Bill
This alarming Bill is open for submissions until 2nd July. It is unbelievable dreadful. Here’s a satirical poem - if it resonates with you, please share it (the link below takes you to a downloadable PDF which has a link to the government submission website.)
A great explainer has been prepared by Forest and Bird.
And here’s a downloadable PDF if you wish! Feel free to share. Soon! Closes 2nd July.
From the “Can you believe it?” files 1
“Antibiotic resistance is one of the fastest-growing threats to global health", The Guardian reports. Ominously, Climate change is increasing that antibiotic resistance...
Front-footing the Future: Dr Mike Joy.
Mike Joy is a leading freshwater ecologist and researcher whose ecological mindset brings him to engage across very varied fields and to champion wide-boundary thinking. He traverses everything from streams to nitrogen to ending fossil fuels.
Also available as condensed versions on Fresh FM, Plains Media, Arrow FM, and Free FM, and as full or condensed interviews on Spotify and Apple.. Full info on the whole series and guests and a downloadable schedule is at the Resilienz website.
From the “can you believe it?” files 2
Global warming changing how the world smells “In Egypt, increasing temperatures are shrinking yields of aromatic jasmine flowers; in France, extreme drought has reduced the production of fragrant, night-blooming tuberose, a major ingredient in many perfumes; in Italy, climatic extremes are altering the characteristic floral, citrusy scent of bergamot.” writes Hannah Thomasy in Yale Environment 360 .
For example, researchers have discovered that air pollution degrades many of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that make up lavender’s characteristic scent, and increasing temperatures dramatically decrease the floral perfumes released by strawberry plants and wild white petunias. Agricultural chemicals, like fertilizers and fungicides, add additional VOCs to the air in fields and orchards around the world.
Stony Brook University pollination biologist Jordanna Sprayberry (Yes, that’s her name. Associate Professor of Pollination neuroethology), and her colleagues taught bumblebees to recognize a particular floral odor, then tested with the proboscis extension response test how three different fungicides affected the bees’ ability to recognize this odor. “We found negative effects of every fungicide we tested,” she says. One was disruptive at every concentration tested. This could be especially problematic for fruit and vegetable production, crops that generally require insect pollination and are often heavily treated with fungicides.
How beautiful is “the beautiful game”?
From the Heated Substack an incisive take on ad breaks at the world cup. Climate change is “boosting the likelihood of performance-impairing heat” during 97 of 104 scheduled World Cup matches. So what do they have to do with commercials?
“You know, these commercials are only happening because of climate change.”
Front-footing the Future: Professor Colin Butler
Colin Butler is Honorary Professor of Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University and is also a Professor in Epidemiology and Population Health, with a special interest in heat and population health. Colin joins some remarkable dots between political history and present problems; between inequality and addressing the climate crisis.
Also available as condensed versions on Fresh FM, Plains Media, Arrow FM, and Free FM, and as full or condensed interviews on Spotify and Apple.. Full info on the whole series and guests and a downloadable schedule is at the Resilienz website.
“The world is well past the peak of combustion engine car sales. These sales peaked in 2017.” Hannah Ritchie Substack 12th May.
Let’s turn our dreadful EV uptake into an opportunity
Like a binge eater our addiction to fossil fuel vehicles gives us lots of room for improvement. Currently we’re on track to become one of the world’s dumping grounds for obsolete vehicles using obsolete fuel.
Image from Hannah Ritchie. adapted with NZ info from Carbon News
“I’m guessing that if you buy a combustion car [in Norway], people now think you’re a bit odd.” Hannah Ritchie Substack 12th May.
