Kia ora koutou katoa and welcome to your newsletter.

This week, the Climate Change Commission released its long-awaited comprehensive package of advice to the government on how to decarbonise the economy to reach domestic net-zero emissions targets and international obligations under the Paris Agreement.

The commission’s report was largely welcomed, not least for its clear call to make real cuts to emissions instead of relying on offsets through tree planting or carbon trading. It’s also an acknowledgement that New Zealand has been a laggard when it comes to climate policy, with net emissions up by 57% between 1990 and 2018 and a second-worst emitter score among OECD countries.

The commission has drawn up carbon budgets to 2035 and a detailed plan how to achieve them across all sectors, including transport, energy generation and agriculture. James Renwick, a climate scientist and one of New Zealand’s six climate change commissioners, explains why the government must take “immediate and decisive action”, and modelling expert Robert McLachlan takes a deeper look at the transport sector and the commission’s proposed plan to rapidly shift away from fossil fuels to electric vehicles and renewable power generation.

And a warm welcome to the University of Auckland, which is the latest New Zealand university to become a member of The Conversation. Thanks to all of our NZ members — Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury, the University of Otago, and University of Waikato — for making it possible to bring you The Conversation.

There’s plenty more to read in this newsletter and on our home page and we’ll be bringing you more analysis and new research. and informed opinion as the year unfolds. As always, thank you for your ongoing readership and support. Until next time, mā te wā and all the best.

Veronika Meduna

New Zealand Editor: Science, Health + Environment
Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

How to cut emissions from transport: ban fossil fuel cars, electrify transport and get people walking and cycling

Robert McLachlan, Massey University

Emissions from road transport in New Zealand have doubled since 1990, and the Climate Change Commission recommends sweeping changes to switch to electric transport options.
New Zealand artist Lorde (performing here in Germany) is one of several signatories to an open letter to industry leaders about stopping sexual abuse and discrimination. GettyImages

NZ music’s #MeToo moment is a wake-up call for educators: prepare graduates to challenge and change the industry

Oli Wilson, Massey University; Catherine Hoad, Massey University

Musical and vocational training must move beyond making students ready for work — they must also be empowered to deal with an industry overdue for reform.
Lynn Grieveson via Getty Images

Climate Change Commission calls on New Zealand government to take ‘immediate and decisive action’ to cut emissions

James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

The Climate Change Commission releases New Zealand's first comprehensive plan to cut emissions, calling on the government to "pick up the pace".
GettyImages

COVID-19: the science and law are clear — it’s time for NZ to turn down the travel tap from high-risk countries

Nick Wilson, University of Otago; Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago; Michael Baker, University of Otago

With quarantine infection numbers and border failures likely to keep increasing, the case for stricter travel restrictions is clear.
GettyImages

COVID-19: Northland case is a reminder NZ’s ‘dumb good luck’ may run out

David Welch, University of Auckland

Without improvements to New Zealand's 'makeshift' border quarantine system the risk of further community cases of COVID-19 variants remains high.
www.shutterstock.com

If border restrictions increase to combat new COVID-19 strains, what rights do returning New Zealanders have?

Kris Gledhill, Auckland University of Technology

The right to return is real but not absolute, and must be balanced with the rights of those already in New Zealand.
AP Photo/Mark Baker

NZ needs an evolving pandemic strategy if it’s to keep the public’s trust

Bernard Walker, University of Canterbury

The way politicians and public health officials have handled the coronavirus pandemic so far has earned people's trust. But that trust is conditional.

From our foreign editions

GameStop: Wall Street short sellers are not villains but Reddit traders should be totally free to attack them

Arturo Bris, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)

There was outrage after Robinhood and other trading apps temporarily suspended buying of the stocks being targeted by the Reddit traders.

Why Indian farmers are so angry about the Modi government’s agricultural reforms

Bhavani Shankar, University of Sheffield

While new Indian agricultural reforms are ostensibly aimed at empowering farmers, there are fears they will have the opposite effect. Here's why.

Congress could use an arcane section of the 14th Amendment to hold Trump accountable for Capitol attack

Gerard Magliocca, Indiana University

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was first used against Confederate leaders after the Civil War to expel seditionist politicians. Now it could be used against Donald Trump.

Israel faces legal – and practical – obligations for including Palestinians in vaccine success

Yara M. Asi, University of Central Florida

Palestinian territories are impoverished and densely populated – ripe for the spread of coronavirus. Israel may have a practical as well as moral obligation to extend its vaccine program to them.

When is ‘dead’ really dead? What happens after a person ‘flatlines’

Amanda van Beinum, Carleton University; Sonny Dhanani, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Is a person dead when their heart stops beating? It turns out that the classic “flatline” of death is not so straightforward.

Hip hop and Pan Africanism: from Blitz the Ambassador to Beyoncé

Msia Kibona Clark, Howard University

The increased migration of Africans and the global growth of hip hop culture has seen a dynamic new generation of Pan Africanism emerge.

Myanmar’s military reverts to its old strong-arm behaviour — and the country takes a major step backwards

Adam Simpson, University of South Australia; Nicholas Farrelly, University of Tasmania

It is difficult to see how the military will benefit from another coup, since it already enjoyed immense political and economic influence under the previous power-sharing agreement.

The AstraZeneca vaccine and over-65s: we may not have all the data yet, but limiting access could be counterproductive

Kylie Quinn, RMIT University

A recommendation from a German vaccine advisory body not to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged over 65 has caused concern. But we should interpret this advice with caution.