Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

A conference is a great opportunity to take a step back from day-to-day imperatives and take a long-term, strategic view of issues and challenges.

I recently attended a conference run by the Environmental Defence Society, which focussed on long-term environmental trends – both globally and from a New Zealand perspective.

The picture painted was very sobering. Accept it or not, man's negative impact on the world isgrowing rapidly and is unsustainable.

Our economic growth model based on consumption is depleting many of our natural resources and is leaving pollution in its wake.

We are seeing large changes in water and air quality and weather patterns, and we're rapidly losing biodiversity as more and more species become threatened.

Societal inequality is growing and with it comes unrest, and the population in many developed countries is aging.

It is very easy to ignore these trends when we are not directly affected – and this is the crux of the problem.

It will take all of us working together, doing our bit, to turn around what's looking like an unsustainable future.

We also need to come up with different ways of doing things to address the problems ahead.

A good example of a win-win solution was given by the Mayor of Copenhagen, which is being severely affected by torrential weather events driven by changing weather patterns.

Copenhagen is seeking a long-term solution to climate change impacts by going carbon neutral, but in the interim is redesigning its urban environment to allow it to manage large storm events.

Roads are narrowed to accommodate man-made streams, cycleways double as flood channels, enlarged parks double as stormwater retention areas, roofs double as roof gardens, and paving is permeable.

This has been done by engaging the whole population in the planning process and the result has been a much more liveable and resilient city, which is a source of pride.

The bottom line was that business as usual or small incremental changes aren't sustainable options – and we need to start rethinking our future immediately.

If you have views on this, or any other issue, you can email me at neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150.