Best summer sustainability reads
Published 30 November 2018
Sustainable entertainment for you these holidays
The year has whizzed by again, and probably with it your good intentions to read that book, watch that documentary, or listen to that podcast.
Summer is a great time to catch up, so here’s a list of our favourite sustainability-themed reads, listens, and (for rainy days and quiet evenings) watches from the year.
1. Zero Carbon Act series / The Spinoff, 15min reads
A series of people-focused stories on the impact of climate change in the Pacific region and why a Zero Carbon Act is necessary.
2. What is climate change interactive / New York Times, 15min read
A very pretty way to read about climate change and what it means to you.
3. Twice podcast series, 45min listens
Conversations with people working in social enterprise, with beer. Guests have included Papa Taiao Earthcare, Inspiring Stories and Akina Foundation. There's also a series on the Social Enterprise World Forum.
4. People fixing the world/ BBC, 30min listens
Conservations with people and issues from around the world. Topics have included how to make sushi from methane gas, would you rent your clothes, and greener in death.
5. Fighting Waste Mountain / RNZ, 30min listen
A great wrap on New Zealand's waste problem. How big the issue is, who's responsible and what needs to change.
6. The Regenerators / Greenpeace, 11min watch
A Greenpeace made short doco about farmers leading the way on sustainable agriculture and farming that doesn't harm our waterways.
7. No, poor people can't just 'grow their own vegetables' / The Spinoff, 10min read
A valuable insight into food insecurity in New Zealand, and how health and housing issues prevent people from growing their own food and being self-sufficient.
8. Why are New Zealand's waters so polluted? / Al Jazeera, 25m watches
A two-part video series on our polluted waterways which throws our global 'clean, green' image into question.
9. Our textile waste problem (any of these!)
It's been in our news a lot this year, and for good reason - fast fashion is creating a big waste problem. Here are a few good listens and reads on it.
Kiwi firm addresses worldwide textile-dumping issue / Stuff, 5m read
One garbage truck of textiles wasted every second / Ellen Macarthur Foundation report, big read
The True Cost / 92m documentary, available on Netflix etc.
10. Blue Planet II / TVNZ, 50-60min watches
TVNZ have been screening Blue Planet II and it's available on demand. David Attenborough talks us through some of our oceans' wonders and crises.
11. The real cost of air travel to the environment / The Listener, 20min read
A frank look at the impact our air travel has on our carbon footprints, and what we can do about.
12. Sustainability Trust Library, reads and watches of all lengths
We have more than 600 books, DVDs and other resources on everything from forest gardening to green travel. The library is free to join and use, and we're open until December 22 (back again Jan 8) for you to come and borrow. Email marion@sustaintrust.org.nz for more.