Recording of a lunchtime seminar given by Lisa Vonk as part of the Environmental Futures series, 2025
Climate change and demographic ageing are seen as twin ‘wicked’ problems around the globe. In Aotearoa New Zealand, it is estimated that by 2050 those aged 65 and over will constitute 25 percent of the population (Khawaja & Thomson, 2007, p. 4). By comparison, in 2016, people over 65 accounted for 15 percent of the population (Tun et al., 2021). As the impacts of climate change are felt in Aotearoa New Zealand, systemic underfunding has led to health and social sectors that are already constantly stretched. A future where more of the population might require some form of support seems certain. There is a widespread sense that we have a perpetually worsening crisis of care.
This presentation explores the implications of having “crisis” frame social, political, and ecological relations of care. I look at the political economic, demographic, moral, and ecological dimensions of the contemporary care crisis, and highlight the work crisis does in shaping contemporary forms of care. Crisis legitimates the status quo (Masco, 2017; Roitman, 2013). It embeds particular forms of care, emphasises particular caring values, and orients us to particular care rhythms. Drawing on the perspectives of older people and home care workers, two groups that shoulder much of the responsibility for care, I end by exploring ways we can move beyond ‘care crisis’ and into more hopeful caring (and environmental) futures.
Lisa Vonk is based at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa/Massey University where she tutors courses in global citizenship and media studies. Her research explores issues of care and responsibility with relation to digital technologies. She is a member (and the administrator!) of the Massey University Political Ecology Research Centre, and is one of the Secretariat for the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.