Science Media Centre

In the wake of US President Donald Trump withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, Victoria University of Wellington professors James Renwick and Marc Wilson talk about the psychology of climate change denial, and whether sceptics can be convinced otherwise. An excerpt (read in full): “There’s a very well-documented disinformation campaign,” says Victoria University’s […]

With the, somewhat signposted, news that 2016 was the warmest year on record globally, and the warmest in New Zealand since modern records began in 1909, Professor James Renwick writes that we need to channel energy into urgent action. An excerpt (read in full): The past year also saw two milestones: the atmospheric concentration of […]

New Zealand became the 63rd country to ratify the Paris Agreement – getting in ahead of the European Union and within the first 55 per cent of countries required to meet the threshold to bring the agreement into force. New Zealand has pledged to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. […]

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Victoria University of Wellington professors Tim Naish and James Renwick – ahead of their nationwide speaking tour – outline 10 facts New Zealanders might not know about climate change. An excerpt (read in full). Ten things New Zealand can learn about climate change 1 Wellington has the longest continuous carbon dioxide […]

In a NZ Herald two-page special report, Jamie Morten interviews three climate researchers from Victoria University Wellington about climate, change and the future. Prof David Frame, Prof James Renwick and Dr Simon Lamb share their insights in the feature, ‘Your future weather: A daunting forecast’ . An excerpt (read in full here): Professor David Frame […]

Current drought conditions in the North Island have heated up discussion about the science of climate change and the future of New Zealand’s weather. Climate scientists have warned the we may see similar dry seasons in the future. Examples of media coverage from over the weekend: Sunday Star Times: North Island Drought The Most Severe […]

Writing in the Dominion Post Weekend paper, Michael Forbes looks at the connections between the recent chilly weather and climate change.  An excerpt (read in full here): NZ can expect more big snowstorms You might have had better luck selling ice to eskimos than peddling global warming theory on the streets of Wellington this week. […]