Banning offshore exploration: Deferring the inevitable in climate war

Earlier this year New Zealand decided not to allow any new offshore oil exploration. That time-to-face-reality decision was a response to our addiction to the energy/growth dynamic threatening our world.

“Transitions have to start somewhere and unless we make decisions today that will essentially take effect in 30 or more years’ time, we run the risk of acting too late and causing abrupt shocks to communities and our country,” said prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. Her government has made tackling climate change a core policy, committing to generating 100% of electricity by renewables by 2035 and making the economy carbon neutral by 2050.