Women and girls are a key to climate action. There is an urgency at every level to effectively mitigate the devastations of the Climate Crisis. Collectively women must be at the decision-making table to help find strategic solutions through influencing climate change policy and legislation and to engage at grass roots. Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and te ao Māori (the Māori world) values need to be centralised in our relationship with whenua.

The vision of New Zealand’s National Council of Women’s Climate Change and Environmental Hub is that the government act on the Climate Emergency declared in 2020 to embrace a new paradigm centred on human rights, care, and redistribution based on the promotion of women's leadership and decision-making in climate change adaptation and mitigation for the good of all people and the planet.

Women Talking Politics issue 2023 was launched on Saturday at the NZ Political Studies Association Conference held in the University of Auckland.

The event was for those interested in reinvigorating the Women's Caucus, which supports Women Talking Politics and is, in its own right a voice for women involved in politics and political theory.

Also, if you are not yet a member, we urge you to join the NZPSA. The conference is a lot of fun, there's an opportunity to contribute essays for the NZ Politics Studies Association, a post-graduate conference, prizes for the best student essays in various categories, and a Facebook page to keep in touch with each other. Details of the conference and membership can be found on the website.

The Editorial Board of Women Talking Politics: Barbara Bedeschi-Lewando, Shirin Brown, Heather Devere, Nashie Shamoon and Heather Tribe

Dr Barbara Bedeschi-Lewando, Christine Caughey, Dr Emma Hughes, Dr Gill Greer, Catherine McInally, Challen Wilson, National Council of Women New Zealand: Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Action Hub 

To read more articles from The Circular (January-February 2024) issue 645, click on the tag below.