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James Renwick

Guest writer

James Renwick is a professor in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington.

Image: Archi Banal

We’re at the starting blocks of climate action – here’s what the sprint looks like

We know what we need to do. And there's no reason why New Zealand couldn’t be the country to show the rest of the world how it's done.

By James Renwick | 13th June, 2023

Students march through the streets of Wellington during the climate strike. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

A stake in the ground

The declaration of a climate emergency tells the people of New Zealand, and the international community, that this is who we are and this is where we are going.

By James Renwick | 7th December, 2020

Elephants might not fly. Image: Donald Iain Smith/Getty

The NZ tourism industry cannot afford to ignore the elephant in the room

While New Zealand may continue to prosper from the tourist dollar for a decade or two yet, there is the very real prospect that the climate crisis will drive international tourism down.

By James Renwick | 20th January, 2020

Brandon Atkinson via Flickr

What if climate change was purple?

James Renwick explains why he's investing prize money from a PM's science award into bringing artists and scientists together, and how you can be part of it.

By James Renwick | 3rd October, 2019

New Zealand is failing on climate change

New Zealand is failing on climate change

Despite all the evidence of climate change and environmental degradation, and the clear need to take action, we just aren’t taking action, writes James Renwick

By James Renwick | 20th April, 2019

An orca off the east coast of New Zealand. Photo: Getty

I’m excited by this big business pledge on climate. Now let’s hold them to it

At last attitudes across the business sector appear to be seriously changing, writes climate scientist James Renwick

By James Renwick | 12th July, 2018

Simon Bridges has backed an independent Climate Commission. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Bridges to somewhere: why National’s climate U-turn is such a big deal

Climate change is not a partisan issue, and the need to take big steps to reduce emissions is urgent.

By James Renwick | 18th June, 2018

Quit the oil drip: NZ can be the leader on fossil fuels the world desperately needs

Quit the oil drip: NZ can be the leader on fossil fuels the world desperately needs

Pressure is mounting on the government to halt oil and gas exploration. If New Zealand can successfully wean itself off fossil fuels, we can only accelerate action in other countries, argues James Renwick

By James Renwick | 21st March, 2018

An artist’s impression of James Renwick’s climate based nightmares

Slaying the zombie memes in that ‘climate sceptic’ column on Stuff

I would love for Doug Edmeades to be right, as I would sleep better at night, but the arguments he trots out have been debunked over and over again, writes climate scientist James Renwick

By James Renwick | 16th January, 2018

Factory at sunset in Cleveland, Ohio (Photo by Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images)

Secretary Tillerson is coming to town. Here’s what the PM needs to say to him about Trump’s climate assault

With the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, in New Zealand on Tuesday, Bill English and Paula Bennett have a chance to strongly condemn the dereliction of international leadership in quitting the Paris agreement - and to use the occasion to galvanise action here writes climate scientist James Renwick

By James Renwick | 2nd June, 2017