An (in)equitable transition: Where to from here?

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan talks of the need to consider equity within our climate response. The plan highlights that “climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is also a deeply social issue, with significant implications for those that are most vulnerable…” and that “…climate change also creates intergenerational inequity. If we do not act, we risk leaving a significantly different and less habitable world to our children and our children's children”.

This is nothing new or unique to Tāmaki Makaurau. An equitable, or ‘just’, transition has been at the forefront of discussions around climate action since the drive for change started to gather momentum.

But what in practice have we achieved?

How well are our decisions considering those who will be most impacted by climate change and with the least resources to make the transition to a low carbon future?

Let's explore the equity challenges that many at the leading edge of climate action are seeing, and the lessons we have learnt (or need to learn) from our recent experiences of society-shaping disruption.