Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 2h

Good Lord!

Paul Thistoll @pault.bsky.social · 3h

This is utterly embarrassing.

www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

There’s a major climate summit in Christchurch but the minister’s party won’t let him go

Climate Minister Simon Watts had been due to deliver the closing address at the global Adaptation Futures Conference, but National Party whips refused his leave from Parliament.

www.stuff.co.nz

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 2h

My recent comments on NZ methane targets summarised here.
theconversation.com/a-lack-of-am...

A ‘lack of ambition’ over livestock emissions targets now threatens NZ’s reputation and trade

The government’s weakened methane reduction target mirrors the approach promoted by industry lobby groups but rejected by the Climate Change Commission.

theconversation.com

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 12h

Outgoing Buller mayor cries as he talks about risks facing town www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Outgoing Buller mayor cries as he talks about risks facing town

Jamie Cleine was in tears as he spoke about increasingly damaging floods.

www.rnz.co.nz

Reposted by James Renwick

The Press @thepress.co.nz · 1d

Hundreds of scientists and global leaders are converging on Christchurch for the world's largest and most influential climate adaptation gathering.

Global leaders, scientists gather for NZ's largest ever climate event

Hundreds of scientists and global leaders are converging on Christchurch for the world's largest and most influential climate adaptation gathering.

dlvr.it

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Reposted by James Renwick

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 1d

A reminder.

Humanity has never removed an atmospheric pollutant at a global, continental or, even, regional scale — we have only ever shut down the source and let nature do the clearing up. This is the case for chlorofluorocarbons and stratospheric ozone destruction, for sulfur dioxide and acid rain, and for sulfur and nitrogen oxides and photochemical smog. We must be prepared for CDR to be a failure, leaving us to rely on the environment to stabilize atmospheric CO₂ over thousands of years. This is another argument for rapid decarbonization.

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Reposted by James Renwick

Robert McLachlan @robertmclachlan.bsky.social · 1d

""Our trading partners are unlikely to smile on this reduction in ambition," [Renwick] said." – perhaps we'll hear from the EU High Commission in Wellington about this soon

Kirsty Johnston @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social · 1d

I thought I’d have a go at answering the question: what’s the flow on effect on emissions budgets from the methane cuts?

The answer was worse than I had anticipated

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Scientists fear weaker methane target signals wider retreat from climate action

After cutting methane targets, New Zealand has a choice: shoulder the burden at huge cost - or cause more warming to the planet.

www.rnz.co.nz

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

Government engaging in doublespeak on #ClimateAction
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Scientists fear weaker methane target signals wider retreat from climate action

After cutting methane targets, New Zealand has a choice: shoulder the burden at huge cost - or cause more warming to the planet.

www.rnz.co.nz

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

The process of community engagement the Council undertook to get to a future plan for Westport is truly inspiring. Much aroha. #AF2025

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

A really moving set of presentations from Westport residents and Councillors on the realities of climate change & extreme events. These are people who have experienced it first-hand. #AF2025

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

"When the next storm comes, will you be one who steps back, or steps up?" Toroa Charteris & Zabeel Scanlan, Westport high-school students. #AF2025

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

But let's not too much about methane emission reductions. Go #EconomicGrowth!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Coral reefs, ice sheets and Amazon rainforest approaching a tipping point due to global heating, report says

Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2C ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale’, a report by 160 scientists from 23 countries warns

www.theguardian.com

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

"Survival must come before profit" Hon. Dr Maina Talia #AF2025

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 1d

An excellent article from Marc Daalder, if you want all the shifty details.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/f...

Farmers off the hook on climate means rest of us pick up the slack

Comment: The Government's methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus.

newsroom.co.nz

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Reposted by James Renwick

Clever Hansel 💗💜💙 @cleverhansel.bsky.social · 1d

[wearily resetting my giant novelty Days Since Last Hera Lindsay Bird Tweet Moment counter from 05 to 00] #nzpol

@HeraLindsayBird: godDAMN this stupid milkloving piece of shit dumbass mean spirited sale at brisolcoes racist sexist 40% off deck furniture piss country

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Reposted by James Renwick

Christina Hood @christinahood.bsky.social · 2d

If you are fuming about the derailment of climate ambition in AoNZ, how about helping fund an investigation into where this came from 👇

Byron C Clark @byroncclark.bsky.social · 3d

The crowdfund for a podcast investigating how the idea of quitting the Paris climate accords went from fringe to mainstream is getting closer and closer to the goal. If 25 more people pledge $5 we'll be three quarters of the way there

www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/861...

Podcast: Quit Paris? How pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords went from fringe media to the mainstream | PledgeMe

Quit Paris? This podcast will investigate how a fringe idea moved from being a fringe position to one advocated by mainstream politicians

www.pledgeme.co.nz

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 2d

Pretty much.

Jenny Wilson Leader of the pack 🐺🐺🐺 @jenchef.bsky.social · 2d

So we don't care about climate change. Farmers can sit back and continue to pollute while being paid well for their milk and meat.

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Reposted by James Renwick

Jaide Dee Wiccad Witch of the East @witchnwords.bsky.social · 2d

Holy heck if you only watch one thing, make it this.

youtu.be/gbljPQbxtTQ

Ndlovu Youth Choir - Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Music Video) isiZulu version

YouTube video by Ndlovu Youth Choir

youtu.be

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 3d

A great summary here from Kevin Trenberth on significant ocean changes...
illuminem.com/illuminemvoi...

When the ocean stops breathing | illuminem

The ocean is highly stratified. Warm, fresh water sits on top of cold, salty water, influencing vertical oceanic exchanges. As the ocean becomes increasingly layered, its role as the planet’s climate ...

illuminem.com

2

Reposted by James Renwick

SayItToMyFace🚫👑 @sayittomyface.bsky.social · 5d

Love this! So talented and creative. It’s the soundtrack to the scientific apocalypse we are living in! I follow @ellecordova.bsky.social here but this wasn’t posted. This was from TikTok! Enjoy!

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 6d

A new piece, co-produced with health researchers. Key points:
"Climate change is one of the best-recognised global threats to human health and wellbeing" & "The current Government's policies are inadequate to address climate change risks"
www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/cli...

Climate change is harming health: The need for urgent action

With mounting evidence of climate change’s health consequences, the case for urgent action is stronger than ever.

www.phcc.org.nz

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 7d

"...deep-seated systemic problems that incremental change will not solve." Right - time to stop pissing around and do everything we can to get off fossil fuels.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by James Renwick

Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 8d

Gardening
(Helping at Home, 1961)
Artist: Harry Wingfield

Two small children help their dad weed and tidy a flower bed on a chilly early autumn day

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Reposted by James Renwick

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 10d

Hmm. With solar energy, the big explosions take place 93 million miles away

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 10d

A fireball lit up the sky across the Los Angeles area on Thursday night after an explosion at a Chevron refinery in El Segundo, alarming nearby residents who said it felt like an earthquake. The cause of the explosion was not clear. No injuries were reported. nyti.ms/42pPCaW

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James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 10d

Its a strange world we live in...
open.substack.com/pub/anuncomm...

You know the economy is broken when ...

I often find myself listening to the radio or watching the TV news and thinking, you know the economy is broken when this is allowed to happen in our society.

open.substack.com

James Renwick @cubaraglanguy.bsky.social · 15d

Yeah, but renewably powered, right...?

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