The Nelson Tasman Climate Forum is a community-led initiative open to everyone. Our mission is to weave individuals, households, civil society organisations, businesses, councils and iwi together around urgent, strategic action on climate change in the Nelson-Tasman region.

We try to hold face-to-face hui four times each year, when Covid restrictions allow. These hui are an opportunity to connect, welcome new people into the Forum, share and celebrate progress, action and ideas together.

Therefore, after having

celebrated our recent successes
heard about our traditional Spotlight (on Youth, Arts, and Science themes)
connected over morning tea

We propose to take the opportunity of this October Hui to examine the question of the Climate Change as a Symptom of Human Overshoot.

We'll ask ourselves the following question: can we solve the climate crisis without addressing our relationship to the natural world and limits to growth? What is our proper relationship with Te Taiao, the natural world? What does this mean for how we live and provide for each other, that is, our economy?

A conversation dealing with the inter-related themes of changing our relationship with the Earth and Nature to one of harmonious living within limits, with love and respect for all other species; and in an economy limited by this, implying an end to growth of developed economies, possible degrowth.

Especially the first part of this talk would make much use of images that inspire deep love for Nature - the forest, a flower, an electron microscope image, mainly indigenous.

We'll be happy to welcome Ian Shapcott (Shappy) and Bill Rees to the Forum Hui on Zoom, followed by questions, and discussion with the speakers and in small groups.

Bill Rees is Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Originator of the ‘ecological footprint’ concept and co-developer with Mathis Wackernagel of its method of analysis. ‘Ecological footprint’ is a quantitative tool for estimating humanity’s ecological impact on the biosphere in terms of appropriated land and water area.

Bill’s research reveals the fundamental incompatibility between continued material economic growth and ecological integrity.

Rees' academic interests are in the following subject matter fields:

Human bio-ecology and the ecological basis of civilization including the role of energy in the expansion/sustainability of the human enterprise.
Ecological economics: Biophysical realities in resource allocation and distribution
Global change and the dynamics of societal collapse.
Why high intelligence (e.g., the capacity for logical thought and reasoning from the evidence) plays so small a role in societal decision-making particularly pertaining to sustainability

He has won multiple awards and honours, and is a much sought-after speaker in many, many countries throughout the world. We’re delighted that he can add Aotearoa to that long list.

Ian Shapcott (Shappy)

Member and supporter of the Climate Forum since its beginning.

Shappy has had a 40 year planning career and a 46 year association with the Māori peoples of Te Waipounamu/South Island. He constantly attempts to translate the Mātauranga around Kaitiakitanga into a shape that confronts our immediate challenges.

In the Forum, Shappy brings us back, again and again to the values of our interdependent relationship with all the other species with whom we share this land and water. He is always ready to speak from these values and perceptions to the wider community, by way of recruiting more and more paddlers, to propel our joint Kaitiaki o te Taiao Team waka, forward.

The event is free, but registration is required.

Please also note that for reasons related to Covid, we may be obliged to limit the number of participants to 50 people maximum.
Therefore, do not delay to register if you wish to participate. Thank you also for informing us in case of withdrawal. This way we can offer your place to someone else who might be on a waiting list.

Please also be sure to bring your face mask and sign or scan the Covid register at the entrance. Once inside, please also keep your distances with each others.

And if you are unable to join us on site, here is a Zoom (registration) link to join in the hui online: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdeiqpz4uHdRwq9-c8tAFKuw0vr2ThWPz