WAO Summit 2022: A radical rethink
It’s a crazy time to be alive. Paradigm-shifting, some might say. And so we gather, as a community, to navigate our way to a better future. The Wao Summit is a six day festival in the Southern Lakes dedicated to creating long term social and environmental change, and it’s back this October. Run by sustainability non-profit Wao Aotearoa, the summit is in its fifth year and gathering momentum.
With our environmental and economic realities shifting fast, Wao Aotearoa was set up to help our communities and those further afield to thrive through this transition. From experts in food resilience to those challenging the notion of economic growth, this year’s summit will be graced with an incredible line-up of humans. We’ll hear from boundary pushers and assumption-questioners, activists and deep thinkers, all sharing their wisdom on the unique challenges and opportunities which we face locally and globally. Across Queenstown, Wānaka and Arrowtown, there will be workshops, a whole lot of kōrero, tours, a film festival, community events and a month-long bike festival.
Unsurprisingly, one of our main themes is climate action. With our trajectory set for environmental collapse, how do we pull together and radically shift that flight path? Join us on a deep dive with Damon Gameau, award-winning writer, producer and film director, and the brains behind 2040 and That Sugar Film. What changes would we need to embrace to have a future we can be proud of? Come along to the Regenerate 2030 Kōrero with Damon to explore how, together, we can unlock creative solutions from the ground up.
We’re also joined by climate change consultant Dr Carly Green, who will help demystify carbon neutral, offsetting, and the somewhat confusing world of climate claims. Real change starts with understanding, and Carly helps people to calculate their emissions so they can set themselves meaningful targets. Join Carly at What does Carbon Neutral Really Mean? Clarifying Terminology in Climate Claims and Climate Action in the Rural Sector.
Inextricable from our living world is our economic system. Our economy is changing radically, whether we like it or not. We’re joined by the legendary Paul Hawken, author of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, and founder of non-profit Project Drawdown. Paul is a visionary and a solution-finder, bridging climatic, ecological and economic regeneration. His book has fast become a climate change bible. Join Paul for Drawdown: Solving the Climate Crisis, a dive into going beyond net zero to give back more than we take.
We’re also tackling the question of growth: it’s a big one. Can capitalism survive? How can we keep growing, if our growth model requires that we take more from the earth and people than we give back?
As advocates of the Degrowth movement will tell us, switching to renewables is simply not enough. We must radically redesign our systems. Join thinkers Jonathan Boston, Kate Meyer and Tim Crownshaw at the Rethink Kōrero, Living Within Our Limits: Green Growth vs Degrowth.
So, yep, there’s a lot to think about. And, in the face of all this disruption, are we going to be able to feed ourselves? And what’s the true cost of the food we waste? Food scientist Julia Blackford will sit down with Aisla Cain, Jade Gray and Jason Bradford for another Rethink Kōrero, to pick their brains on all things food resilience. And how do we look after ourselves mentally and emotionally in these times of change? Several Aotearoa-based experts will share their perspectives on well-being, connection and mental health.
Many thought leaders seem to agree on one point: meaningful change starts with community. So, as well as inspiring action, the Wao Summit is a celebration of the local action already happening on the ground. It’s a chance to champion all the (often-overlooked) local legends and projects squirrelling away. Join the Sustainable Communities Bike Tour, checking out and workshopping all around Wānaka or Queenstown, from community gardens and solar homes to native planting and low-impact shopping.
If we want to save our planet, we’ve got to change the way we move. In fact, we’ve got to halve the amount of time we spend in the car, stat. Enter Biketober, our Southern Lakes Bike Festival dedicated to celebrating the bike-centred life. This is a whole month of active transport events, activities and conversations championing the benefits of active transport for us and our planet. Head to the website for the full programme.
There’s also nothing quite like the power of film to inspire and catalyse. So this year, the summit will host its inaugural Film Festival, with five different sessions covering our main themes. From regeneration and transport to the way we eat, these sessions will showcase an ever-widening network of local and global change-makers. It’s bound to get you thinking, talking, and acting.
As far as tickets go, there are options galore. If all the themes and speakers are piquing your interest, grab an All Access Pass. This offers a spread of tickets across the summit - head to the Wao website for details. In the name of cutting unnecessary transport, many of our sessions will be available digitally, and accessible for a month post-summit.
Wao is the Māori kupu for forest. Join us to create a vibrant, self-sustaining and diverse ecosystem which we can all be proud of. We’ll see you there.
