Professor Ralph Sims, a distinguished researcher in energy studies and a Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient (2007), delivered a compelling presentation to our Rotary Club on the urgent challenges posed by climate change. Professor Sims’s expertise, developed since the 1970s at Massey University, focuses on innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

During his address, Professor Sims underscored the stark per capita greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand—16 tonnes per person annually, making us the sixth highest globally. He criticised the local perspective that New Zealand's smaller scale diminishes its responsibility in the global climate crisis. He highlighted the rising global emissions, especially from fossil fuels and the extensive food supply chain, and stressed the critical need for policy reforms, particularly reducing fossil fuel subsidies and revising agricultural practices.

Professor Sims expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of meeting the 1.5°C temperature increase limit set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.