Climate change

Thumbs up for your editorial ‘‘Time to meet the rising tide’’ (Nelson Mail, May 26). You applaud the Government ‘‘taking the reins’’ on climate change, but rightly pull no punches about the enormous logistic and fiscal challenges, and the importance of public buy-in.

Between your lines, though, we glimpse the blinkered vision that has so hamstrung past climate change responses: you describe as a ‘‘chilling new reality’’ what has been signalled, largely unheeded, for decades. And, for all its partial truth, suggesting ‘‘the only real question’’ is if insurers or government lead the charge leaves us in the lap of unpredictable gods, downplays individual responsibility, and ignores the amazing and widespread contributions of citizens, businesses and community organisations.

Democratic government is glacial at biting the bullet on difficult issues, so we might take comfort from Nelson City Council’s decision to reduce Natureland’s funding. Why? Because council resisted the temptation to support a populist issue dear to the public heart, surmounted political differences, and adopted more pragmatic priorities. On a massive scale, climate change presents parallel dilemmas, and demands the very highest calibre of unified government. We must accept nothing less.

Lindsay Wood

Nelson, May 26