Paul Bruce

Greater Wellington Regional Councillor

I am a Meteorologist (a MetService lead forecaster) and bike daily to my Brooklyn home. I have lived in Brooklyn for the last 26 years with his wife Catalina, and two daughters.

Wellington is a great place to be, and we do a lot right. But we can do better. We are unprepared for many changes that will happen in the coming decades.

Our local economy is totally dependent on limited fossil fuels.

Ad hoc developments are occurring such as the Brooklyn Rise near where I live, with little regard to solar potential and long term sustainability.

Traffic, mostly private, is clogging up our city roads, pedestrians and cyclists are increasingly at risk from irate drivers, and our public transport is not running on time.

We must reduce our dependency on fossil fuels for the sake of future generations and the rest of the biosphere; complacency is not an option as the most important of those fossil fuels, oil, is becoming scarce and expensive.

We need to focus on

• increasing public transport capacity
• improving pedestrian and cycling safety
• enhancing energy efficiency, and
• increased use of renewable energy

To be successful, we must ensure that all territorial authorities work together on regional form, rebuilding around urban islands and transport hubs, rather than sacrificing farmland and ridge tops to sprawl.

Over the last decade I has been invited to speak at numerous forums around Wellington on climate change, peak oil and transport issues, combining my experience as a Meteorologist and community leader to address the issues facing us.

In 2004, as President ATLA (Appropriate Technology and Living Association), I organised the first “Peak Oil” forum in Wellington including the showing of the film “End of Suburbia” at the Paramount theatre. I have submitted to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for a shift in funding towards public and active modes of transport and long term energy sustainability.

As an active member of Cycle Aware Wellington, have organising cycle promotions and improved cycle facilities at my work place.

Contact me

paul.bruce@greens.org.nz

phone: 04 9728699 cellphone:021 02719370

Paul’s issues

• Local Government and the environment
• Great Harbour Way
• Community resilience plan
• Renewable energy uptake
• Rainwater strategy