James Renwick
@cubaraglanguy.bsky.social
Kiwi guy living in paradise. Climate scientist, cyclist, woodworker, whisky drinker.
Born at 315ppm carbon dioxide.
Born at 315ppm carbon dioxide.
Reposted by James Renwick
People Watching: Opening party for 'Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on a Friday night
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
People Watching: Opening party for 'Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on a Friday night
Reposted by James Renwick
Thread time.
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Thread time.
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
Reposted by James Renwick
I’ve written about #COP30 for The Transition(s) Lab.
When the gavel came down in Belém, there was no major diplomatic breakthrough, but that’s not all that COPs are about these days. In a multipolar world, that’s likely a good thing.
Read more here: the-transitions-lab.ghost.io/the-shift-2-...
When the gavel came down in Belém, there was no major diplomatic breakthrough, but that’s not all that COPs are about these days. In a multipolar world, that’s likely a good thing.
Read more here: the-transitions-lab.ghost.io/the-shift-2-...
The Shift #2: COP30 in a multipolar world
These are my reflections on COP30, the first climate COP that I have attended. I would like to thank the Toha Network for supporting my travel, Brazil's Ministry of Finance for the invitation to pre-C...
the-transitions-lab.ghost.io
November 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I’ve written about #COP30 for The Transition(s) Lab.
When the gavel came down in Belém, there was no major diplomatic breakthrough, but that’s not all that COPs are about these days. In a multipolar world, that’s likely a good thing.
Read more here: the-transitions-lab.ghost.io/the-shift-2-...
When the gavel came down in Belém, there was no major diplomatic breakthrough, but that’s not all that COPs are about these days. In a multipolar world, that’s likely a good thing.
Read more here: the-transitions-lab.ghost.io/the-shift-2-...
Reposted by James Renwick
#COP30 "exposed the world as it is — haltingly and slowly tackling climate pollution, and fragmented by rising economic nationalism and protectionism, rather than the united, optimistic community of nations that produced the Paris climate agreement 10 years ago."
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The world is fractured. The climate talks reflected that.
Delegates from nearly 200 nations — not including the U.S. — showed they could make some progress. But they deferred the hardest decisions.
www.politico.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:55 AM
#COP30 "exposed the world as it is — haltingly and slowly tackling climate pollution, and fragmented by rising economic nationalism and protectionism, rather than the united, optimistic community of nations that produced the Paris climate agreement 10 years ago."
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by James Renwick
cox orange apples, painted by deborah griscom passmore, 1905
November 22, 2025 at 8:18 AM
cox orange apples, painted by deborah griscom passmore, 1905
""I think the current government is really unappealing for a younger generation..."
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The record number of Kiwis leaving New Zealand
One expat says his wages as a dishwasher in Australia earned more than his university-qualified technician role back home.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
""I think the current government is really unappealing for a younger generation..."
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by James Renwick
My favorite piece of content today.
November 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
My favorite piece of content today.
"No agreement looked likely, however, on the core issue of a 'transition away from fossil fuels', with the conference split into two large blocs." THE CORE ISSUE. NO AGREEMENT, after 30 years. What is the point of these COPs?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cop30 delegates ‘far apart’ on phasing out fossil fuels and cutting carbon
President of talks urges ministers and high-ranking officials to find common ground as conference nears its end
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
"No agreement looked likely, however, on the core issue of a 'transition away from fossil fuels', with the conference split into two large blocs." THE CORE ISSUE. NO AGREEMENT, after 30 years. What is the point of these COPs?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by James Renwick
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
Lovely article from PhD student Ciaran Doolin at @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social on the ice-age debates of the 19th century.
theconversation.com/nzs-earliest...
theconversation.com/nzs-earliest...
NZ’s earliest climate change debate: the 150-year-old feud over glacial retreat
In the 19th century, scientists could see landscape signs suggesting glaciers were larger in the past, but they settled on tectonic uplift as an explanation.
theconversation.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Lovely article from PhD student Ciaran Doolin at @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social on the ice-age debates of the 19th century.
theconversation.com/nzs-earliest...
theconversation.com/nzs-earliest...
Reposted by James Renwick
Spread the word. Sign-ups close on the 19th
It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas,
With sign up going live!🎶🎵
So here's the Bluesky Secret Santa AoNZ, with some friends from Mastodon along for the ride. We hope you are looking forward to some fun, and that we can bring it to you 🎄
Official hashtag: #SecretSantaAoNZ
App: secretsanta.nz
With sign up going live!🎶🎵
So here's the Bluesky Secret Santa AoNZ, with some friends from Mastodon along for the ride. We hope you are looking forward to some fun, and that we can bring it to you 🎄
Official hashtag: #SecretSantaAoNZ
App: secretsanta.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Spread the word. Sign-ups close on the 19th
Reposted by James Renwick
Yes, all this! And let’s get writing and talking to our MPs.
Did an interview with bFM on #climatechange and health - thanks Sara Mckoy and the bFM team!
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
Climate Change and Human Health Impact Report w/ Victoria University of Wellington Environmental Science Professor James Renwick: 11 November 2025
Last month, Professors James Renwick, Simon Hales, Rebecca Priestley and Alistair Woodward produced a briefing calling for urgent action on New Zealand’s climate policies, given the vast direct and in...
95bfm.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Yes, all this! And let’s get writing and talking to our MPs.
Did an interview with bFM on #climatechange and health - thanks Sara Mckoy and the bFM team!
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
Climate Change and Human Health Impact Report w/ Victoria University of Wellington Environmental Science Professor James Renwick: 11 November 2025
Last month, Professors James Renwick, Simon Hales, Rebecca Priestley and Alistair Woodward produced a briefing calling for urgent action on New Zealand’s climate policies, given the vast direct and in...
95bfm.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Did an interview with bFM on #climatechange and health - thanks Sara Mckoy and the bFM team!
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
95bfm.com/bcast/climat...
Reposted by James Renwick
Record high ocean temperatures continued across the North Pacific in October 2025, with recent warming really amplifying since the early 2000s.
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every October from 1854-2025 using
NOAA ERSSTv5 data (psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded...).
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every October from 1854-2025 using
NOAA ERSSTv5 data (psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded...).
November 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Record high ocean temperatures continued across the North Pacific in October 2025, with recent warming really amplifying since the early 2000s.
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every October from 1854-2025 using
NOAA ERSSTv5 data (psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded...).
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every October from 1854-2025 using
NOAA ERSSTv5 data (psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded...).
Reposted by James Renwick
It would be nice to see a bit more incredulity about AI generally.
Scientists just called out Ursula von der Leyen for claiming that AI will match human reasoning by 2026. Her "evidence" consisted, it turns out, of CEO statements from OpenAI, Anthropic and Nvidia. Not research. Marketing materials. 🧵
#AI #PublicServices #TechHype #Politics #NHS #EUPolitics
#AI #PublicServices #TechHype #Politics #NHS #EUPolitics
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It would be nice to see a bit more incredulity about AI generally.
This is a criminal government. Vote these clowns out & we can start from scratch in a year's time. Sigh.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn
Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes
newsroom.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is a criminal government. Vote these clowns out & we can start from scratch in a year's time. Sigh.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Reposted by James Renwick
they are destroying US climate science on purpose, and it hurts my heart. but take it from an MIT-trained nerdass:
all most of us need to know is that we have to stop burning stuff
stop burning stuff for heat
stop burning stuff for make car go
stop burning stuff for power
we have the tools
all most of us need to know is that we have to stop burning stuff
stop burning stuff for heat
stop burning stuff for make car go
stop burning stuff for power
we have the tools
September 30, 2025 at 2:27 AM
they are destroying US climate science on purpose, and it hurts my heart. but take it from an MIT-trained nerdass:
all most of us need to know is that we have to stop burning stuff
stop burning stuff for heat
stop burning stuff for make car go
stop burning stuff for power
we have the tools
all most of us need to know is that we have to stop burning stuff
stop burning stuff for heat
stop burning stuff for make car go
stop burning stuff for power
we have the tools
Reposted by James Renwick
I was a climate reporter
I got so tired of writing the same 3 paragraphs different ways in every single story
it boils down to: stop burning stuff
yes, it matters
yes, us here, us too
I got so tired of writing the same 3 paragraphs different ways in every single story
it boils down to: stop burning stuff
yes, it matters
yes, us here, us too
September 30, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I was a climate reporter
I got so tired of writing the same 3 paragraphs different ways in every single story
it boils down to: stop burning stuff
yes, it matters
yes, us here, us too
I got so tired of writing the same 3 paragraphs different ways in every single story
it boils down to: stop burning stuff
yes, it matters
yes, us here, us too
Reposted by James Renwick
NZ’s climate law to change – Expert Reaction
NZ's climate law to change - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
Among several changes announced last night, the Government says the Climate Change Commission won't be required to advise on emissions reduction plans. The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will also be...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
NZ’s climate law to change – Expert Reaction
What is going on with this government? www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
Tens of billions: Why the bill for planned Roads of National Significance keeps going up
Latest estimates put the cost at 23 times that of Dunedin Hospital's rebuild - but why has the bill gone up so much?
www.rnz.co.nz
November 3, 2025 at 9:50 PM
What is going on with this government? www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
I'm really looking forward to Catherine Knight's talk on her book "An Uncommon Land", at the Paraparaumu Boating Club, Tuesday 11 November from 6:30. Register at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/do-it-online...
November 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm really looking forward to Catherine Knight's talk on her book "An Uncommon Land", at the Paraparaumu Boating Club, Tuesday 11 November from 6:30. Register at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/do-it-online...
Reposted by James Renwick
What AI hype, its hour come at last, slouches towards LinkedIn to produce statistically average thought leadership pieces.
Next week LinkedIn will use your personal data for AI training by automatically enabling permissions.
To manually turn off go to:
Settings ➡️ Data Privacy ➡️ under
“How LinkedIn uses your data” click “Data for Generative AI improvement” ➡️ toggle off
To manually turn off go to:
Settings ➡️ Data Privacy ➡️ under
“How LinkedIn uses your data” click “Data for Generative AI improvement” ➡️ toggle off
November 2, 2025 at 6:38 AM
What AI hype, its hour come at last, slouches towards LinkedIn to produce statistically average thought leadership pieces.
Reposted by James Renwick
You might have seen that Siouxsie won her legal battle against the UoA, but even after the damages were awarded she ended up massively out of pocket.
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Support Dr Siouxsie After She Supported Us! | PledgeMe
Support Dr Siouxsie to recover some of the money she spent fighting her legal case to protect employees experiencing online abuse
www.pledgeme.co.nz
November 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
You might have seen that Siouxsie won her legal battle against the UoA, but even after the damages were awarded she ended up massively out of pocket.
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
So she's asking for help - There's been lots of support already, which is cool to see - Siouxsie deserves it!
www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Reposted by James Renwick
Spread the word: Labour's CGT is a simple, targeted tax on residential & commercial property to fund 3 free doctor's visits for every Kiwi.
The family home is exempt. Farms are exempt. KiwiSaver is exempt. Businesses are exempt. Nine in 10 Kiwis will not pay a dollar on any property they own #nzpol
The family home is exempt. Farms are exempt. KiwiSaver is exempt. Businesses are exempt. Nine in 10 Kiwis will not pay a dollar on any property they own #nzpol
November 1, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Spread the word: Labour's CGT is a simple, targeted tax on residential & commercial property to fund 3 free doctor's visits for every Kiwi.
The family home is exempt. Farms are exempt. KiwiSaver is exempt. Businesses are exempt. Nine in 10 Kiwis will not pay a dollar on any property they own #nzpol
The family home is exempt. Farms are exempt. KiwiSaver is exempt. Businesses are exempt. Nine in 10 Kiwis will not pay a dollar on any property they own #nzpol
Reposted by James Renwick
Global methane action pays for itself at least six times over
And for fans of GHG metrics: "[...] Lastly, although the best basis for comparing methane and CO2 abatement should be relative social costs, we have found that the convention of using GWP100 is a reasonable approximation."
And for fans of GHG metrics: "[...] Lastly, although the best basis for comparing methane and CO2 abatement should be relative social costs, we have found that the convention of using GWP100 is a reasonable approximation."
Global methane action pays for itself at least six times over
We provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic benefits and costs of global methane emissions abatement, anchored on the Global Methane Pledge. We use an integrated assessment model to estimate...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Global methane action pays for itself at least six times over
And for fans of GHG metrics: "[...] Lastly, although the best basis for comparing methane and CO2 abatement should be relative social costs, we have found that the convention of using GWP100 is a reasonable approximation."
And for fans of GHG metrics: "[...] Lastly, although the best basis for comparing methane and CO2 abatement should be relative social costs, we have found that the convention of using GWP100 is a reasonable approximation."