The highest priority of climate change for this district is not reducing emissions but making the necessary changes to enable people to keep living here. 

The task of tackling emissions, reducing consumption and so forth are worthy goals but ones that must be attacked on a global basis, with full participation from all — especially the biggest contributors and consumers. 

While I applaud every small personal contribution made by those of us who are environmentally concerned, it is important — indeed vital — to keep perspective. It will do a minuscule area such as ours absolutely no good to pursue the reduction of emissions if we cannot first overcome climate-related problems such as climate change and weather events. 

This region’s priority must be the need to change land use: to change, relocate or protect vital services and infrastructure, residences, farming operations and other human activities. 

Doing what we have done in the past is not going to work — a radically new approach needs to be taken. 

Yes, it will be difficult. Yes, it will be painful, but we cannot keep building ever higher walls to keep reality out. We need to work with the air, land and water, not keep trying to bend nature and the world to our self-centred needs and wants. 

The Gisborne region is just under 8400 square kilometres, with around 52,000 residents. It is nonsense to talk about reducing emissions when one considers the smallest state in America is Rhode Island, with a land area of 4000 sq km but a population of more than a million. 

The second largest state, behind Alaska, is Texas with some 30 million residents and a land area approaching 696,000 sq km. 

Honestly, how can you even compare whatever contribution this district can make with either of those examples? Then consider the other 48 states ... and all the other countries on the planet. 

Let us concentrate on what we can usefully do, not waste time and effort where we can have virtually no impact. 

Roger Handford