A 'climate veterans' recap
The classic “we’ll make it work” kiwi spirit was on full display at our recent Climate Veterans Webinar — a virtual hui where some of Aotearoa’s earliest climate champions took us behind the scenes of their decades-long work.
The spark for this event was a cheeky suggestion from one of our old hands: Nigel Jollands, who thought it would be enlightening to get together the “old farts” in the sector. We settled on the more polite “veterans,” but the idea stuck. Working across the usual multiple time zones and busy schedules, we roped in some legends of the NZ climate movement to share how they’ve navigated the ups and downs of environmental policy from the 1980s to now.
They took us from the reality of resource consents in Taranaki, through faxes and far-flung conferences, and right up to modern-day offset debates and overseas postings.
Revisiting the early days
The classic “we’ll make it work” kiwi spirit was on full display at our recent Climate Veterans Webinar — a virtual hui where some of Aotearoa’s earliest climate champions took us behind the scenes of their decades-long mahi.
The spark for this event was a cheeky suggestion from one of our old hands: Nigel Jollands, who thought it would be enlightening to get together the “old farts” in the sector. We settled on the more polite “veterans,” but the idea stuck. Working across the usual multiple time zones and busy schedules, we roped in some legends of the NZ climate movement to share how they’ve navigated the ups and downs of environmental policy from the 1980s to now.
They took us from the reality of resource consents in Taranaki, through faxes and far-flung conferences, and right up to modern-day offset debates and overseas postings.
On the High Seas with Nigel Jollands
A standout moment came from our remote caller via satellite from his trusty yacht, Novara. While navigating the turquoise Caribbean waters, he recounted their hands-on efforts with coastal communities across Europe, Africa, and now the Caribbean — helping them strategise for a changing climate. More recently, leading workshops with community groups that have been struggling with both internal organisation and, prioritising their actions for this year on their climate work.
Nigel and his wife's voyage ahead is nothing short of adventurous: from Cuba to Fort Lauderdale, with plans to venture into the Arctic later this summer, his journey embodies the resilience and adaptability that island nations urgently need in the face of rising seas and extreme weather.
Navigating cycles and looking ahead
One recurring theme was the cyclical nature of climate progress in Aotearoa. The country has swung from bold leadership (think MMP-era environmental policy) to rearguard action, and then forward again—pushing the same boulder uphill. The panelists emphasised how climate denial has changed over time but stubbornly endures. Yet, their kōrero also brimmed with optimism.
Whether you’re in government, finance, academia, activism, or community-led efforts, Matthew rightly put it, finding your people is vital - when at times it feels the odds are against you. As Lindy noted, subnational levels—councils and city initiatives—are often where the real work gets done, so seek out those pockets of innovation and rally behind them.
In Kirsty’s words, “Pick something that motivates you and just give it a go.”
Compiled and written with the help of ChatGPT
