Stef Zeestraten, Wānaka Lavender Farm, featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the Wao Climate Action Initiative (CAI). Stef participated in a CAI workshop in 2021 as part of the Wao Summit.

Laurel Morrison, owner at Wild Wire Wanaka, featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the Wao Climate Action Initiative.

Natalie Norman, Head of technical design and production at Mons Royale, featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss what is the circular economy, what are the changes that need to be making in the apparel industry and how we can be helping the climate crisis.

Whether you own a business, are a farmer, a builder, or want to understand how you can create change at the individual level, there are tools for measuring what your impact is, identifying ways to reduce, and working with others to get our emissions down. Confused about what even a carbon footprint is? The workshops are led by IPCC Lead Author, and Hāwea local, Dr. Carly Green, who breaks down the science, allowing you to understand what it all means and how it affects you.

As biodiversity declines and freshwater sources continue to show high levels of pollution globally, the world is starting to look at different models for food production. The food and fibre sector in New Zealand is rising to this challenge and starting to take action on how to buck the trend.

Social media companies, charged with the task of growth, growth and more growth have found a way to capitalise on our attention by harnessing our outrage and ensuring we stay engaged and on their platforms. So it’s little wonder we are seeing the new, more widespread sense of despair and phenomena of eco-anxiety. Our anxiety is being exploited and sold, it’s a commodity, with information overload intentional.

In Aotearoa there are more young people advocating for change than any other demographic. Our young kiwis are informed, educated and passionate about shaping the future. Next month at the annual Wao Summit they’ll take centre stage, presenting on topics such as plastic waste and pollution, the circular economy, ethical procurement, money mindset, climate action and more.

Climate change is forcing us to rethink how we govern, work and behave. In the legal world, inaction, or delayed action, is increasingly being viewed as a violation of human rights. From increased court cases to changes to our laws and regulations, our legislative ecosystem is shifting fast in response. Whether you work in the public sector, own a business, are a director, a trustee, investor or simply wanting to buy or build a house, these changes will affect you.

Carly is a board member of Wao, and has been involved in global Climate Change mitigation for over 20 years. She holds a PhD in International Climate Change Policy and is also a lead author in International Policy for Climate Change (IPCC). Carly featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the recent IPCC report release, how we can all get involved with reducing our carbon footprints.

We have seen a massive consumer shift since the 1950s from natural fibres to synthetic. New Zealand wool exports made up a massive 50% of our export market 70 years ago, the figure now being less than 1%.

Stephen Batstone, founding Director of Whiteboard Energy, and director/producer of the Powering NZ documentary featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss decarbonising energy in New Zealand, an exciting future for innovation in energy.

Put simply, we need to implement fast climate action to curb the life threatening effects of our warming climate. The recent IPCC AR6 Report outlined what is in store for us if the Earth’s temperature continues to rise at the current rate and it paints a dangerous picture for our future.

The way we build houses in NZ is making us sick, costing us billions in health care and accelerating us to irreversible, ecological and environmental tipping points. High performing, energy efficient homes, the only way forward.

Vicki Spearing, founding member of Wao's Better Building Group featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the current state of homes in New Zealand, what we need to do about it, as well as the upcoming Better Building events for the Wao Summit 2021 (26-31 October)

The pillars of capitalism are free markets, encouraging the accumulation of private wealth and using growth as the yardstick for success. This system could have worked if we lived in a world with infinite resources and we had a counter balance in the system to iron out inequalities. But that’s not the world we live in.

Put simply, a thriving, diverse ecosystem is our life-force. Without it, we simply cannot survive.

Prue Kane, Project Manager for Jobs for Nature at WAI Wānaka, featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the biodiversity work being done at WAI Wānaka, as well as the upcoming Food & Fibre events for the Wao Summit 2021 (26-31 October).

Monique Kelly, Co-Founder and Program Director at Wao, featured on Radio Wānaka to discuss the problem with construction waste, and the upcoming workshops to deal with it at the Wao Summit 2021 (26-31 October).

The construction and demolition (C&D) industry is one of the largest waste producing industries in New Zealand. It is estimated that C&D waste may represent up to 50% of all waste generated in New Zealand.

It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Plastics are everywhere, from the bottom of the deepest sea trench to beaches around New Zealand. As we come to the end of Plastic Free July, we thought it would be good to take a closer look at the problem of plastics.