How important is economic transformation in mitigating against the effects of climate change?
Very, says Green MP Hon Julie Anne Genter who will visit Napier next week for a free public talk on 5 October and then a Q&A session MC-ed by Tairawhiti Green MP, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere.
Genter believes we can put people and the planet first by prioritising smart public investment that looks to the future rather than focusing on short term profitability. At the recent Climate and Business Conference in Auckland she won spontaneous applause when she spoke of the urgent need to take action on climate change now.
Genter grew up in Los Angeles witnessing how neo-liberal policies had led to horrific inequality. She came to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2006 as a post-grad scholar at the University of Auckland and soon got involved in the Green party. She became a Green List MP in New Zealand’s Parliament in 2011 and has since been a spokesperson on a broad range of issues including climate change, transport, health, finance, housing and women. From 2017 to 2020, she was the Minister for Women, and Associate Minister of Health and of Transport. She is currently Deputy Chairperson for Parliament’s Transport and infrastructure Committee
Genter is a BA graduate of UC Berkeley. She earned a post graduate certificate in international political studies from Sciences-Po Paris in France, and has a Masters in Planning Practice (1st class) from the University of Auckland.
Before entering politics, her professional career was in transport and urban planning. She advised local and central government organisations on policy and economic evaluation of transport projects as a consultant for some of New Zealand’s leading firms.
Julie Anne Genter will discuss some of the key challenges and opportunities with economic transformation at a free public meeting on Wednesday, 5 October from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Urban Winery in Ahuriri, cash bar.
