Better Together: Charles Nimmo
A few weeks before summit, we cast our net to find some extra talent willing to help us cover Wao Summit. We found this wonderful human. We wanted to share their generosity so asked them a few questions about their experience at Summit and why they wanted to be involved. Check out their experience of Wao Summit.
Tell us a little about yourself?
Meet Charles, generous human and multi talented farm lad.
I reside on a farm in the Ellesmere Te Waihora area, as the third generation to do so. In the past I farmed sheep, dairy and performed sharing and sheep-dog demonstrations for groups of tourists, although the farm has since been scaled down. I’ve spent the last few years in the fitness and high performance fitness industry after building a gym and high altitude/climate simulation facility. For artistic outlet I undertake videography, have written and publish children’s stories and make music. For sport I race kayaks flat water and down river.
How do you feel about the impacts of Climate Change?
Climate change is a topic I’m starting to understand more from a number of different perspectives. From the farming perspective I’ve watched the seasonal weather patterns change, and have had to adapt accordingly. Having gotten involved in politics and running for parliament in the last NZ election I have become interested in what the mechanisms of change are at a governance level. What are my conclusions? I believe that what I am seeing at WAO is the best way forward. While the world debates on the whether climate change is man made, if the carbon trading market positively affects climate outcomes and the role and jurisdiction international organisations such as the UN and WEF should have on sovereign countries, sound solutions are overlooked and more time elapses. What we need to do is look at what most reasonable people agree on. Specifically that we are over consuming, creating pollution and degrading our natural environment. The solution should be locally lead initiatives supported by regional and central government as per the WAO philosophy.
What inspired you to jump in the car and travel to Wao Summit?
A desire for adventure and knowledge.
Did you know about Wao before you heard about Summit?
I didn’t know it existed but glad I know now.
What was your favourite session at Wao Summit?
Very hard to say. I enjoyed the session on Community Resilience where the learnings from a multitude of disaster responses were collated into sound actionable solutions, with the right balance of top-down and bottom-up command.
The session on Biophylic design was interesting, which explores the ways humans inherently respond to patterns of nature and how to bring these effects into our indoor environments.
Finally I appreciated Trapper Sam’s workshop. I feel we are putting much effort into reinventing and rediscovering culture as it relates to living symbiotically with our environment, Sam however was fortunate enough to be the recipient of culture refined over hundreds of years of how to benefit from, and be a benefit to, our native natural environment. He was a tactful and engaging speaker, making him the perfect transmitter of this vital knowledge to a broad audience.
Has the Summit inspired you into action? If yes, please describe what you're intending to do.
I will relay what I have learnt to those I know in the political sphere as much as I can, and also implement some of the ideas I have picked up during the Summit.
Has your understanding of systems-tthinking and social issues increased due to the Summit?
In all my workshop hopping for videography I missed the reference to this concept. I’ll pay more attention in class next time.
What would you like to see more of at Next Year summit?
I think the workshops could be structured to parts of a greater integrated solution with action points and enduring feedback portals e.g. What, where, when, how and why to plant, trap, fix and lobby to solve the key problems. I also think there should be key representatives from local, regional and central government present to learn from the people in order to facilitate the best of the grass-roots solutions from a governance level and to also explain what governance processes are already in place.