Jacob galvanises my resolve on the environment and climate change

February 5th, 2010
By David Armstrong

Recently I had a week off, returning to my old stamping ground in Christchurch to meet my brand new grandson Jacob, the first (and my daughter swears, my only) on my side of the family.

Like any new granddad, I was delighted to see this extension of the family, and a wonder to be reminded how small and defenceless we all started out.

But it also drew me to think again about what sort of environment Jacob will experience as he grows and becomes an adult, a parent and grandparent himself. Political events like the recent Copenhagen conference on climate change take on a new importance for me.

I've always taken the view that humankind should be taking better care of our world and its finite resources. I'm basically a greenie, although I like to think a practical and realistic one. But sometimes, as the world grinds on inexorably toward an ever more unsustainable future, I feel a weariness of care, like an old age pensioner who's run out of puff.

I'm 66 now, and in my more resigned moments I find myself thinking that I won't be around if and when the oceans rise enough to threaten the location of my present home on the flat in Motueka near Thorp Drain (which shows diring high tide where sea levels are right now). I won't be caring much if other parts of New Zealand suffer environmental degradation, because I'll just be reading books in my grannie flat and walking around the block for exercise.

I can only do so much, or even less, so why not just leave the energetic work to the next generation? Peak oil won't come until after I no longer want to drive the length of the country or fly overseas. Serious climate change effects hopefully won't be too drastic for another 20 years or so. By then I'll be past caring.

And then I cradled Jacob. He's fresh to the world and has a good chance of seeing the 22nd century. He won't be able to ignore the problems our Western civilisation is lining up for itself; he'll have to live with those problems. For perhaps 80, perhaps 100 years. The prediction of 1.5 metres of sea level rising before the end of the century is meaningless to me, but crucial for Jacob, because before half his life is done he'll see the results of water shortages, water wars and other global unrest, environmental degradation even here in Godzone, and the collapse of the consumer society.

Jacob didn't ask to be born into this world. And we who rejoice his arrival must also accept our responsibility to do whatever we can to make his life as good as ours has been. So I'll keep advocating for less consumerism, better environmental awareness, and for national and business leaders to show more far-sightedness than just the pursuit of tomorrow's dollar.

The Copenhagen conference must be a catalyst for some real change in attitudes, some real leadership, and some real care and concern for the future of Jacob and other babes born last week and next.

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