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Sonny Whitelaw

@ecomigrant.bsky.social
168 followers 221 following 377 posts

Australian-born novelist & coastal geomorphologist migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand. Climate change researcher / technical advisor, curator of climatechange.org.nz and teacher of spec fic: www.thewriterscollege.com. Born 314 ppm.

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Reposted by Sonny Whitelaw
Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Talked about why social infrastructure matters in climate adaptation We need to say why relationships: family, friends, neighbours tribes, communities access to health & education are vital in climate adaptation Social infrastructure+physical & nature based adaption youtube.com/shorts/ygufl...
youtube.com
The impact of climate change on our infrastructure
YouTube video by nzherald.co.nz
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Sonny Whitelaw @ecomigrant.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Nailed it.
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Reposted by Sonny Whitelaw
Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
These integrity reforms from Duncan Webb are a really important start and it would be great to have champions from all NZ political parties push this forward. NO matter who wins the election unless New Zealand democracy is fixed, we all lose www.linkedin.com/pulse/labour...
linkedin.com
Labour's Proposal for Integrity Reform in Politics
The purpose of Labour's recently announced political integrity package is not to respond to corruption scandals (although they may exist). It is to strengthen public confidence in democratic instituti...
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Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This never get’s old…
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Mandy Hager @mandyh.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6if... NB: there were at least 32 false or misleading statements made by PM Luxon (Hipkins 1, corrected in real time)
youtube.com
The Leader's Debate: Fact Checked.
YouTube video by Paul… The Other One
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Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 07/10/2026
“It gives me comfort to know there are these silent beings underneath my feet who are just biding their time and waiting for a geological event.” — Karen Lloyd, microbial geochemist www.quantamagazine.org/the-pursuit-…
quantamagazine.org
The Pursuit of Life Where It Seems Unimaginable | Quanta Magazine
A decade ago, Karen Lloyd discovered single-celled microbes living beneath the seafloor. Now she studies how they can survive in Earth’s crust, possibly for hundreds or thousands of years, and push li...
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Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I've had a quick skim through this and there is a huge number of things to think about. 1. Relationships are critical. Still way too much helicopter decision making. 2. Peers are trusted. Which goes to Point 1. re relationships. 3. Much of the distrust can be traced back to economic incentives.
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 02/10/2026
For more details and daily updates, check out the Climate Dashboard:
dashboard.theclimatebrink.com
Climate Dashboard
Daily-updated global temperature tracker: ERA5 daily data, multi-model ENSO forecasts, annual projections, and climate models vs. observations.
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 02/10/2026
2026 as a whole is now on track to end up roughly tied with 2024 as the warmest year on record in ERA5, at 1.6C above preindustrial. And 2027 waiting in the wings to be quite a bit warmer on the back of a record-setting El Nino event.
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Dr Hannah M. Rowland @hannahmrowland.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Hope your day was better than Darwin’s, on this day 165 years ago
I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody &everything.

Charles Darwin
Letter to Charles Lyell
1st October 1861
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Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Link to the report: climateintegrity.org/projects/cli...
climateintegrity.org
Climate Fraud 101 | Center for Climate Integrity
Big Oil’s Climate Deception Explained in 101 Documents
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 30/09/2026
How do we restore the natural world? There is no single answer – in fact, there are a multitude of ways to engage and be #GenerationRestoration. Whether big or small, every effort makes a huge difference. Here are three ways to help nature thrive: ow.ly/IomJ50ZSXnW
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CEO Johnny Cans @oldmatecans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
unexpected allies but welcome ones to be sure
Gimli and Legolas meme

Gimli: I never thought I'd be fighting alongside Fletcher building, silver fern farms and Orion

Legolas: how about alongside people who say "fuck Jenny marcroft and transphobia"?

Gimli: Aye I could do that.
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Sonny Whitelaw @ecomigrant.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thanks, Bronywn.
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Reposted by Sonny Whitelaw
Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The idea good trade agreements help international relations used to be a NZ cross party position eg NZ Ministry of Foreign affairs is AND Trade! I spoke to RNZ & ZB about why our climate principles in trade matters so much: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic... & ZB www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heath...
rnz.co.nz
'Stakes could not be higher': Concern over claim NZ breached FTA climate commitments
International relations experts are warning a case claiming New Zealand is not meeting EU trade agreement climate commitments could seriously impact the country's reputation.
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Sonny Whitelaw @ecomigrant.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
rnz.co.nz
Mysterious Antarctic region that could lift sea levels by several metres must be studied - researchers
A mysterious Antarctic region that holds enough ice to lift sea levels by several metres needs to be studied urgently, researchers say.
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Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A Dutch environmental group claims New Zealand has broken its #climatechange promises in the free trade agreement with the EU and is lodging the first complaint of its kind through the European Commission. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
NZ accused of breaking climate change promise with EU, but Todd McClay rejects claim
A Dutch environmental group claims New Zealand has broken its climate change promises in the free trade agreement with the EU and is lodging the first complaint of its kind through the European Commis...
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Bee @dailybee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Earlier, Jones apologised to the party's supporters for New Zealand First's role in the oil and gas exploration ban, which he said had "destroyed" the Taranaki economy. "Bugger the climate, let's go for jobs," he said to loud applause. #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
Shane Jones backs NZ First's controversial New Plymouth candidate selection
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones is backing the party's controversial candidate selection for the New Plymouth electorate.
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Reposted by Sonny Whitelaw
Charlie Mitchell @comingupcharlie.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
great stuff. really worth everyone's time.
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Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles @siouxsiew.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is absolutely fantastic. As Chlöe says, politics is just a game to some politicians. A way to exert power and line themselves up for comfortable well paid jobs in the future. They can’t fathom that not everyone is like them. This shouldn’t come as a shock but I’m voting ✅✅ @greens.org.nz
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 22/09/2026
Major drinking water report says drinking water was contaminated after logging upstream from school campground in Hanmer Springs
newsroom.co.nz
Law change delayed registration of water supply where children contracted E coli
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A company presold $200k worth of carbon removal credits for an unproven tech, then tried to bully New Zealand into gutting environmental laws to bypass safety checks. Officials found zero evidence their "ocean fertilization" method works or is safe. 🌊
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Gareth @grenow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Includes great use of Clash lyrics...
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RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
National attack ads against Labour use crime footage from government's own term
rnz.co.nz
National attack ads against Labour use crime footage from government's own term
National is defending the use of footage showing violent crime under its own government in attack ads against Labour.
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Sonny Whitelaw @ecomigrant.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I have an idea. How about we mine the staggering excess nitrogen out of our waterways?
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 15/09/2026
As fuel prices surge, electric vehicles are helping to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from New Zealand's overseas oil bill.
newsroom.co.nz
Electric vehicles save NZ $90m in oil imports amid fuel crisis
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Sonny Whitelaw @ecomigrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Not a good look for a supposed 'financial advisor'.
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Dr. Jonathan Foley @globalecoguy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The idea that "regenerative" grazing is a climate solution has really taken hold in some quarters. But the science is clear: It doesn't work. Methane and land-use emissions just overwhelm any soil carbon benefits. Here's a great piece by @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social drawdown.org/insights/eig...
drawdown.org
Eight reasons regenerative grazing can’t make beef climate-friendly
An influential regenerative grazing movement continues to grow. But here's why the science doesn't back up the purported climate benefits.
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 10/09/2026
By outlawing Smith's case against big corporate polluters, the Government has only shifted the target of life-and-death damages claims to its own back, writes Marc Daalder.
newsroom.co.nz
Ex-Solicitor-General says Mike Smith climate lawsuit won't be the last
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Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Useful framing here—a very large El Niño event is an unfolding case study from which we can learn much about climate impacts and vulnerability.
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Climate.us @climate.us · 09/09/2026
Sea Ice Today is back! For nearly two decades, scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, or NSIDC, have helped people understand what is happening to sea ice in the Arctic and around Antarctica. Its monthly science analyses were paused last fall. buff.ly/e20zCU6
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Paul Le Comte 🇳🇿🇨🇦📷 @paullecomtephoto.nz · 09/09/2026
What the actual living FUCK "Shane Jones responded to the petition by stating first that he does not believe the Māui is a subspecies of Hector’s dolphin." Wiki: Māui dolphins were classified as a subspecies of Cephalorhynchus hectori. SOMEONE STOP HIM en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81...
Some arrogant fuck being a cunt of a human being again - you're not a scientist asshole
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 08/09/2026
With oil prices rising again, Hayley Gourley says there's a new urgency in the farming sector's search for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-reliant fertilisers. Jonathan Milne reports.
newsroom.co.nz
Fertiliser costs drive up food prices, warns Reserve Bank decision-maker
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Veronika Meduna @veronikameduna.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The @smcnz.bsky.social asked political parties about their science policies (NOTE National and Te Pāti Māori did not respond by deadline; ACT declined the invitation) www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/09/09/2...
sciencemediacentre.co.nz
2026 Election Q&A - Science
Ahead of the 2026 General Election, scheduled for Saturday 7 November, the Science Media Centre asked political parties about their science policies. Responses to all 12 questions on science policy an...
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Stephen Moran. @moranstephen1000.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 06/09/2026
The two major parties fail the young, in part by favouring policies for the elderly. Economics professor Robert MacCulloch thinks this election offers a solution.
newsroom.co.nz
A youth quake will define this election
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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 06/09/2026
Pick which country is bigger, then watch it morph from Mercator to Equal Earth projection to see how close you were.
aljazeera.com
Can you guess the real size of each country on the new world map?
Pick which country is bigger, then watch it morph from Mercator to Equal Earth projection to see how close you were.
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 06/09/2026
Comment: Cleaning up nitrogen pollution costs 10 times more than buying the fertiliser in the first place, freshwater ecologist Dr Simon Stewart argues.
newsroom.co.nz
Costly, harmful and addictive – the huge hidden cost of our synthetic fertiliser habit
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 03/09/2026
Bell Gully environmental law expert warns the Climate Change Response Amendment Bill leaves council and homeowner adaptation funding unresolved
newsroom.co.nz
The ‘big unanswered question’ in climate change adaptation planning
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RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
'Imagine if all of us showed up': Young voters urged to enrol
rnz.co.nz
'Imagine if all of us showed up': Young voters urged to enrol
The number of young people enrolled to vote has increased over the past month, but almost 188,000 18- to 24-year-olds remain unenrolled ahead of this year's general election.
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Paul Le Comte 🇳🇿🇨🇦📷 @paullecomtephoto.nz · 03/09/2026
We have the receipts
Opposition leader Christopher Luxon says he will not use Defence Force planes to travel internationally if elected as prime minister.
He says the Defence Force's 757s are well past their use-by date, and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' delegation to China should have flown commercial.
The criticism follows news the Defence Force was providing a second plane as a backup in case the one sent to China broke down. The second flight travelled to the Philippines before returning to Australia.
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Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
🌏 JUST OUT: a major international review paper, involving 80 scientists from 16 countries, has outlined a bold plan to address some of the biggest uncertainties in #Antarctic driven #sea-level rise. Read the paper ▶️ agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Review of Geophysics

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Antarctic Coastal Zone and Its Contribution to Future Global Sea Level.

Kenichi Matsuoka, Geir Moholdt, Jennifer F. Arthur, Julien A. Bodart, Xiangbin Cui, Fausto Ferraccioli, René Forsberg, Vikram Goel, Tom A. Jordan, Felicity S. McCormack, Ruth Mottram, Hamish D. Pritchard, Calvin Shackleton, Kirsty J. Tinto, Fredrik Boberg, Marie G. P. Cavitte, Reinhard Drews, Pierre Dutrieux, Jörg Ebbing, Olaf Eisen, Hannes Eisermann, Alex S. Gardner, Chad A. Greene, Nicholas Holschuh, Stewart S. R. Jamieson, Byeong-Hoon Kim, Naomi Krauzig, Bernd Kulessa, Carlton Leuschen, Jilu Li, Lu Li, Jonas Liebsch, Joseph A. MacGregor, Emma MacKie, Anirudha Mahagaonkar, Joséphine Maton, Mathieu Morlighem, Francisco Navarro, Peter D. Neff, Inès N. Otosaka, Frank Pattyn, Antonia Ruppel, Rebecca J. Sanderson, Hélène Seroussi, Andrew Shepherd, Matthew R. Siegfried, Thomas Slater, Arjen P. Stroeven, Michael Studinger, Thomas Teisberg, Ryan A. Venturelli, Jeremy P. Winberry, Chen Zhao, Lu An, Jonathan L. Bamber, Robin E. Bell, Robert G. Bingham, Johanna Brehmer-Moltmann, Graeme Eagles, Jamin Greenbaum, Jorn Gronset, Won Sang Lee, Emmanuel Le Meur, Lenneke M. Jong, Katrin Lindbäck, Sven Lidström, Mareen Lösing, Masahiro Minowa, Mayuri Pandey, Yogesh Ray, Mirko Scheinert, Dustin M. Schroeder, Thorsten Seehaus, Kaian Shahateet, Daniel Steinhage, Xueyuan Tang, Drew Taylor, Hannah Verboncoeur, Junjun Yang, Duncan A. Young.

Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022RG000803
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 02/09/2026
Global warming is set to cross 1.5°C, pushing climate risks and impacts to increasingly dangerous heights, a new UNEP report warns.   Predicted impacts include extreme weather and threats to human health and economies.
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All Our Yesterdays @allouryesterdays.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
September 3, 1963 – Ritchie-Calder sounds the alarm: CO2 build up will “radically affect glaciers and ice caps” allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/02/s...
allouryesterdays.info
September 3, 1963 - Ritchie-Calder sounds the alarm: CO2 build up will "radically affect glaciers and ice caps" - All Our Yesterdays
Sixty two years ago, on this day, September 3rd, 1963, at the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Aberdeen on the morning of September 3, Ritchie Calder gave a speech ...
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Ahem…
A screenshot of a mobile app interface for Apple Maps titled "Report an Issue" against a dark background, asking, "What issue do you want to report about Lake America?" Below the question, three selectable options are listed: "Name is wrong", "Location on map is wrong", and "Something else", with a red hand-drawn circle emphasizing the first option, "Name is wrong."
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Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
GOOD NEWS! Methanex closing ends Luxon’s already weak argument for importing dirty LNG fossil gas. www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...
rnz.co.nz
Methanex to effectively close and sell off gas contracts
New Zealand's largest gas user Methanex is to effectively close its plant and sell off its gas contracts.
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 01/09/2026
At the same time, the new Low and Very Low of scenarios show a later start to emissions reductions than in their CMIP6-era SSP counterparts (SSP1-2.6 and SSP1-1.9), which had global emissions peaking and declining after 2020. The new Very Low scenario notably overshoots 1.5C mid-century.
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 01/09/2026
The biggest revisions are on the high end – the new high scenario is noticeably lower than the high scenarios in the past three generations of scenarios, reflecting a reassessment of the plausible range of future emissions in light of past trends and changing technology costs.
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 01/09/2026
The emissions scenarios underlying the next generation of climate model runs that will be featured in the upcoming IPCC 7th Assessment Report are officially out! I have a big new explainer over at Carbon Brief taking an in-depth look at what they mean and whats changed: www.carbonbrief.org/...
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Grist @grist.org · 31/08/2026
When ocean temperatures increase, so does child malnutrition on land
dlvr.it
When ocean temperatures increase, so does child malnutrition on land
Researchers are just discovering this troubling consequence of climate change, but they still don't know why it happens.
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