Speedier EV uptake in faster climate change action call

About 150 academics have signed an open letter to the government calling for “robust and emergency action” in response to climate change.

They want faster action – including on emissions free transport – and suggest the immediate development of a “data-informed plan for rapid decarbonisation of the economy”.

The letter says it’s “unacceptable to us that future generations in Aotearoa and globally should have to bear the terrifying consequences of climate breakdown”.

It cites the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report highlighting the need to halve global emissions and “get on track to avoid warming of more than 1.5C and catastrophic environmental breakdown”.

One of the letter authors, Victoria University professor James Renwick says it’s frustrating things are not moving faster and he likens the need to mobilise as similar to war-time efforts, RNZ reports.

“We’re talking about the energy production for the whole global economy having to change pretty significantly.”

Renwick says while the New Zealand government is moving in the right direction it needs to move quicker.

Changes which could be pushed include 100% renewable energy and incentivising EVs and public transport, he says.

Upfront costs would be considerable, but New Zealand doesn’t have a choice, Renwick adds, pointing to the California fires as an example of what can happen.

He told RNZ that once the direction is set, the economy will adapt.

“If you’re the company that comes up with a better electric vehicle or a better solar panel that’ll be valuable, so it’s not as though it’s all cost.”

Although the letter is aimed at speeding government-level change, Renwick says individuals can start making changes now.

Those include using less fossil fuels and building more community resilience.