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What's happening at AUT...
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New Director of Sustainability
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Lucy McKenzie has been appointed to the new position of Director of Sustainability and will take up the role at the end of the month.
In the new role she will be part of the senior team in Strategy and Planning and will work with the Sustainability Steering Group (formerly the Vice Chancellor’s Sustainability Task Force), currently chaired by Dr David Hall of the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
Congratulations Lucy!!
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Young Sustainability Leaders program is taking applications now!
What would you do if there were no limits? With a group of supportive people helping you explore your passions? For any students who are wanting to get mentored by industry leaders, work on real-world leadership projects, and meet like-minded humans interested in sustainability, wellness, personal development and social impact this program is for you! With mentors across government, industry, startup world and more. This is an internationally acclaimed program and the YSL team can't wait to share it with students ready to take on this opportunity.
Please fill out this form by June 20th, 9pm your local time to register your interest. Each intake can only take 15 students from universities across NZ and AU so get in quick!
Sessions will be held for the June intake on the online zoom virtual classroom between June 28th and 10th August. For more info email team@youngsustainabilityleaders.org.
The YSL program is run by a collective of Alumni from AUT University, The University of Auckland and The University of Adelaide
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Bike Facility Survey results
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50 members of staff and 4 students participated in an AUT bike facility survey. The majority of participants commute to AUT by bike 4-5 times a week. They were asked to rank how important different cycle facilities are to them. Covered parking and swipe card access came out as most sort after. When asked what level of security is expected many expect a medium level - swipe card access and CCTV coverage. 32 people submitted a comment in the ‘further comments’ section showing extra support for further facilities.
AUT is in the process of setting aside budget to improve cycle parking facilities. The results of this survey will be included as items for consideration regarding which particular facilities should be prioritised for inclusion or upgrade.
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Plastic Free July is beginning next week!
Plastic Free July is a global movement, in 2020 an estimated 326 million people across the globe took part in the challenge from 177 countries. This month is all about reducing the consumption of single use plastics at home, at work and when out and about.
AUT is working towards becoming zero waste with a short term target of halving waste to landfill by 2025. All of AUT's cafes sell only compostable takeaway packaging - coffee cups included. There is also a 50c discount for those who BYO cup or container.
Keep an eye out for more PFJ communications throughout the month. Check out the PFJ website to sign up to the challenge and learn what you can do. A great way to start it off is to have a quick look in your rubbish bin to identify one plastic thing that you often purchase that you can avoid this month whether that be a take away coffee cup, plastic veggie bag, a plastic wrapped food item or more.
Complete action S025 in Green Impact!
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A reminder that the Planetary Health webinar is on the 22nd. Join Monash experts, Dr Selina Lo and Professor Yuming Guo to
learn more about the impacts of planetary health on our health and wellbeing, climate change and what we all need to do to reverse the damage.
Register here.
Complete action B016 in Green Impact!
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Something easy you can do...
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The 2021 Garden Bird Survey is beginning on Saturday 26th June and runs until the 4th of July!
Bird populations can indicate if the environment is healthy. Lots is known about endangered native birds in the bush, but not what is happening in populations of all birds around us, particularly in urban and garden environments. That's why the count is so important.
What is collected during this time helps researchers make decisions to protect our environment. It also tells us if what is being done in areas such as predator control is working.
Taking part is easy. Grab something warm and a cup of tea, sit out in your garden, local park or campus for one hour and record the highest number of bird species observed during that time.
Check out the Website to join, book it in your calendar and make sure to log this as action B004 in Green Impact.
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What's happening in the wider world...
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Celebrate Matariki in Tāmaki Makaurau this year with the Matariki Festival running from 19 June until 11 July! Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, a local iwi, are partening with Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau to host the Matariki Festival.
The rise of Matariki - a cluster of stars, in the winter skies above Aotearoa is an important time in the Māori calendar, as it signifies the start of the Māori new year. New year celebrations provide the opportunity for whānau to come together to acknowledge the year gone by, prepare and plan for the year ahead; to celebrate with kai, kōrero, ceremony and entertainment.
There are many events on during the three weeks including workshops, exhibitions and screenings, check them out on the website.
Complete action B010 in Green Impact!
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NZ Sustainable Development Goals series
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Online SDG Hui #3 'Working Together for Change' is happening Thursday 24 June from 7-9pm!
Topics range from Intergenerational Conversations and Justice, to the SDGs within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. This third online hui will create an opportunity for more in-depth discussion and more time in small workshop groups, to explore and unpack our learnings.
You'll have the choice to attend either two facilitated panel discussions on the topics above, or an interactive workshop exploring how organisations can credibly measure their contribution to the SDGs using the Future Fit Business Benchmark.
As a group, you'll hear an update on the creation of an SDG Alliance in Aotearoa, before jumping into the concurrent streams.
Register here
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IAG releases its 2021 climate change poll
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The 2021 IGA poll shows that New Zealanders are increasingly expecting the government and business sector to take stronger action on climate change adaptation.
The survey shows that 79% of respondents see the government as being responsible for taking action on climate change, this is up from 65% in 2018. 71% now see businesses being responsible for taking action, a rise of 14% since 2018. This shows a real need for change in New Zealand, 23% say that the response is not moving fast enough.
Victoria University’s Professor James Renwick says, “New Zealanders have a really thorough understanding of how the climate is changing, and to an extent how we are going to have to change with it. There is a clear concern for equity and fairness in how we cover the costs and the damage, and a strong consensus among the public that individuals should not have to foot the bill.”
Read the full results here
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Climate Change Commission's final report
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The Climate Change Commission has released the final roadmap to become carbon neutral by 2050 after more than 15,000 submissions were received in response to the draft released in late January.
Some of the recommendations include;
- Nearly all cars imported by 2035 must be electric vehicles
- Set a farm emission carbon pricing scheme, or look to bring agriculture into the emission trading scheme
- Phasing out coal as soon as possible and boilers that burn fossil fuels
- Establishing a comprehensive plan for new native forests
- Supporting workers to transition from high-emissions sectors to low-emissions sectors
There is much discussion over the lack of strong suggested changes to the agricultural sector such as a cut in herd size.
The government said the report showed meeting the climate targets were achievable and affordable with existing technology, and delaying action will end up costing more. The government has until the end of the year to respond with its own plans.
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Independent Kiwi film 'High Tide Don't Hide' follows 5 young climate activists including Aigagalefili Fepulea’i-Tapua’i, an AUT law and engineering student and Pacifica campaigner. The film weaves the stories of five teenagers as they rally against anxiety, climate denial and white privilege to pull together a record-setting strike in Aotearoa New Zealand.
High Tide Don’t Hide premiered at the Doco Edge Fild Festival earlier this month, with showings in Auckland and Wellington and screenings online. "Everyone, everywhere has to see High Tide-Don’t Hide. It is the best, most important film I have seen in years, gives me hope for the future, kia kaha rangatahi mā, you can make a difference!!"- Dr. Ella Henry, Associate Professor, AUT
You can rent the film online from the 26th June to 11 July, watch the trailer here.
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Brush wattle is a fast growing, woody evergreen tree. It has frond-like leaves that give it a feathery appearance. Flowers are bottle brush like and greenish-yellow in colour and can be seen from May to August. Seeds are contained in long, flat, green pods.
This is a pest as it outcompetes native plants and facilitates establishment of pest plants.
To control the plant you can dig or pull out seedlings all year round. Cut down the wattle trees and then any regrowth that may occur. If the tree is seeding at the time of removal, be careful to dispose of the seeds through rot or landfill.
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Fortnightly Species: Pīngao/pīkao/golden sand sedge
Pīngao is a native sand-binding sedge that plays an important role in New Zealand's dune ecosystems. It has long stiff flax-like leaves that are green when young and golden yellow when mature. They once would have been found on all NZ beaches but now only a few populations remain. Pīngao helps to build and stabilise sandy areas by trapping wind-blown sand. It also creates environments for other species to thrive.
Pīngao has a strong cultural, spiritual and traditional significance to Māori. It is regarded as a Taoka or taonga (treasure) as it is one of the 4 main native fibers used by iwi for weaving - it is sought after due to its golden colour when dried. The plant is also known as the eyebrows of Tāne Mahuta, one version of the story states that Tangaroa - God of the Sea was jealous of Tāne Mahuta - God of the Forest. To end the conflict Tāne plucked out his eyebrows out of a sign of peace and gave them to Tangaroa however Tangaroa did not forgive and instead threw the eyebrows back on the shore where they grew at the boundary between the sea and the forest as pīngao.
Marram grass is pīngao's greatest threat, this invasive plant smothers the less resilient pīngao. Land use change and grazing are also common threats. There are many restoration projects in place to restore pīngao on our dunes. Learn more about pīngao here.
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