We had a very interesting evening discussing various aspects of Climate Change.

In my opinon Climate Change is our generation’s biggest challenge, bigger than the current pandemic.

The event highlighted a positive view on what each of us can do every day to reduce our environmental impact.

Here is a recording of the two presentations.

1) Bernadette Aperahama (Whangarei District Council’s Climate Change Ambassador)
Bernadette gave us a comprehensive update on WDC/ NRC’s Climate Change Action plan and ran a hands-on workshop on how we can all contribute to reduce the global warming impacts with daily habit changes. She will share the results with the wider group and encourages everyone to get involved so that your ideas will be included in WDC’s long term plan. Here are Bernadette’s WDC Climate Change Adaption Plan slides.

2) Rob Willighagen (Technical Superintendant at Ports of Auckland)

Rob talked about the world’s first electric tugboat, electric/ autonomous container straddlers, onshore power for ships and other sustainability projects at Ports of Auckland.

3) Dr. Kirstin Schulz (Mathematican & Oceanographer at AWI Polar Research Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany)

Kirstin was part of the epic MOSAIC year long expedition on RV POLARSTERN  to the Artic Ocean. This is the biggest international oceanographic research project since the Geophysical Year 1959 and involved over 200 researchers from around the world. Kirsten will report on many polar bear encounters, the impact of changes in the Artic Ocean to the global climate and its impact on the Southern Ocean and Aotearoa.
Kirstin gave a vivid report on her experience in the Artic Ocean for 3 months in the ice during Leg IV of VI of the EURO 130 million once every 125year research.

Here are the full audio recordings of the event.