Climate scientists are providing an update on our warming planet at a free public event being held in Wellington from 6:15 pm-7:45 pm on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
The event focuses on the dramatic changes in our climate since the award-winning documentary Thin Ice: The Inside Story of Climate Science was filmed more than 15 years ago.
Thin Ice was co-directed by earth scientist Simon Lamb, now an adjunct professor at Te Herenga Waka.
Simon will be speaking at the event along with other scientists who featured in the documentary and climate policy analysts who will be talking about how we respond to the changes we now face. Clips from the film, which was launched on Earth Day in 2013, will also be shown.
This month's event was initiated by Emeritus Professor Peter Barrett, an executive producer of Thin Ice and founding director of the University’s Antarctic Research Centre.
Despite international commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep global temperature increases to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels—and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C—greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb, says Peter.
“Research since the Paris Agreement was adopted has shown ice sheets melt at 1.5°C but emissions are still rising and with increasingly devastating consequences from changing climate and extreme weather events. We thought it was time again to let people know,” he says.
The event, compered by Te Radar, is being held at the Royal Society Te Apārangi, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington. Additional information is available here.
Read more about Thin Ice and the history of how the film came about.