More heat means more disturbance in the oceans and atmosphere — more extreme weather and all its associated impacts, such as erosion.
The source of this extra heat has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt to be caused by human activity.
The geological nature of the East Coast with its soft rocks and thin soils is the other major factor in erosion, as is now well known.
To be blunt — there is nothing we can do at a local small scale that will make any difference to the overwhelming combination of geology, ocean and atmospheric heat.
Nature always wins.
What I would have liked to see on the Herald’s front page was some hint that the powers-that-be have any idea on what to do.
No mention of planned, managed retreat in the face of huge natural forces. No mention of how to relocate people, maintain employment, compensate for loss — so on and so forth.
What is happening now with erosion is the hand nearing midnight, where we are already in the zone of being unable to do anything meaningful at all.
It is well past the time that citizens should be demanding their political and civil servants tackle the issue with the utmost urgency.
Councils and government must accept that it’s the big issues that are vital — the small stuff can wait.
Wringing hands over a walking track at Makorori is pathetic when the much bigger picture shows the future of whole communities is at stake.
