The short-sighted occupation of Eglantyne Island from residents who were supposed to have been evacuated due to rising sea levels shows that some Kiwis will never accept modern climate science, even when the evidence is lapping at their very doors.
If the Wellington City Council or the Government bend even slightly to these protestors' demands, they will be setting a dangerous precedent for the future as more and more suburbs around the nation face the question of managed retreat.
Climate scientist Eric Palmer says that we should expect more evacuations in the years to come. "Eglantyne Island is an interesting test case. It has a very small permanent populations and its specific geography makes it really vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Not just sea level rise, but also extreme weather events, such as the storm that caused mass destruction in February 2013." The impact of subtropical cyclone Janet was still being felt the following year when the Wellington City Council conducted the Eglantyne Island Review, which concluded that managed retreat would be the best way to deal with the impacts of climate change on the island.
However, a section of Eglantyne's population have decided to ignore the wisdom of the 2014 review and have instead thrown what can only can be described as a temper tantrum. The 'Eglantyne Occupation', as it is being called, is a kneejerk reaction to a fact we all must face: climate change is real. As Palmer says, Eglantyne is vulnerable. The Eglantyners must realise this.
Shameful to see that even members of the younger generation are supporting this cause. I really thought after the whole School Strike for Climate that the young people could be trusted to be on the right side of history... sigh
SallyWaddington64
GOOD ON YA EGGIES! I'm thinking I might even row out there and join u
KevBantamNZ
lol do they think the wcc can stop the sea from rising?? smdh
MAGNIFICENTGAL
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