🌿 Reflecting on the Success of the World Green Infrastructure Congress 2024 🌿
We intended for the congress to be a catalyst for change, and the feedback we are receiving, the connections made, and collaborations started lead us to believe it was a resounding success.
The whakataukī unfolded just as we had envisioned, with indigenous thought leaders enriching our collective understanding. The feedback from many resonated deeply with the sentiment: 'Ko au ko te taiao, ko te taiao ko au' – 'I am the environment, and the environment is me.'
Dr. Lyla June Johnston shifted our perspective, helping us realise that we are, in fact, a keystone species capable of fostering immense abundance and biodiversity on the planet. The challenge lies in rethinking some of our current processes and goals. We’ve achieved this balance before with indigenous wisdom, and for thousands of years, it's time we do it again.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson’s call to “go greener, faster” resonated deeply, underscoring the urgency of adapting Auckland’s infrastructure to face the increasing challenges posed by climate change.
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton’s insights on the loss of urban green spaces were a wake-up call. His research reinforced the need for data-driven policies to protect and expand these critical ecosystems, which provide essential services.
Rob Stokes, Chair of Net Zero Australia, cautioned against compromising environmental standards in response to the housing crisis, leading to what he called “lazy subdivisions.” He emphasized the need for more thoughtful and sustainable land use, warning that the urgency of the crisis should not justify neglecting environmental and social considerations.
Author and scholar Julia Watson introduced her concept of Lo-TEK ("local traditional ecological knowledge") at the congress. Lo-TEK draws on Indigenous, ancestral technologies that have sustained communities for thousands of years by harmonizing with nature, in contrast to Western approaches focused on extraction and consumption. Julia outlined five principles—living, co-evolutionary, co-energetic, symbiotic, and cyclical.
The congress included a reflection on the link between green infrastructure and public health, led by Sir Ashley Bloomfield KNZM CMInstD, who shared insights to wellbeing benefits of nature. As cities evolve, they must foster not only environmental resilience but also social and public health equity.
During a panel discussion led by former PM Helen Clark, visiting US speaker and human ecologist Dr. Lyla June Johnston emphasized the need to view urban green spaces not only as beneficial for people but also as opportunities for humans to give back and support the well-being of Mother Nature. Lyla questioned: “How can we design ourselves and our systems to be regenerative and nourishing to Mother Nature?”
Huge thanks to all the speakers, participants, and sponsors for making this world congress such a success!
