Connection, collaboration and dialogue – in conversation with Lei Gu

Re-learning that nature is not separate from us, but that we are nature, is essential on our shared journey toward a safer and more just future for all. This realisation is often followed by a powerful urge to act. We had the privilege of catching up with Climate Reality Leader Lei Gu to talk about her passions, from supporting a range of community-led projects to working at an independent Chinese-language bookstore that aims to inspire dialogue and connection through reading and community programs. 

Across all that she does, Lei Gu’s work is driven by a deep desire to explore how we can reconnect with nature and live in better relationship with it.

What first inspired you to join the Climate Reality Leadership Training, and how has that experience shaped your day-to-day life and professional path? 

I had always been interested in how we could live in better relationships with nature/climate but never learned about the topic in a structured way. The Climate Reality Leadership Training felt like a great opportunity to do so, and it was helpful to gain more knowledge around different areas of climate action.

Can you share some climate-related projects, past or upcoming, that you feel deeply passionate about and what impact you hope they create

Tiritiri Matangi Island, PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY LEI GU, 2026

There are so many! Just came back from visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island so would love to share this amazing and significant example of community conservation. What was a 220-hectare farmland and green paddock over 30 years ago has now been turned into a sanctuary for endangered wildlife, led by scientists, professionals and carried forward by the people of Auckland. 

Could you tell me more about your work and how you see public spaces like this contributing to climate awareness and climate action? 

I work at an independent, Chinese-language bookstore in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. It is a place for diaspora communities, hoping to inspire dialogue and connections through books and community programs. 

Personally, for me, one of the most powerful things that inspires change is seeing others around me taking climate action, whether big or small steps. Public spaces like a bookstore feel crucial in showcasing these role models around us, connecting communities, surfacing different perspectives (especially those often less heard), and encouraging meaningful conversations which plant seeds for action. 

chinese-LANGUAGE BOOKSTORE EVENT, PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY LEI GU, 2026

What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter the climate space but does not know where to start? 

I still feel like this all the time! Something that has helped me, is thinking everything can be viewed with a climate lens, so maybe it's more about putting on the lens a bit more versus entering a space? Some words from others have also eased my anxiety, which may resonate:
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• "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Anne Marie Bonneau
• "Nature has the tendency and ability to heal itself. We are nature."

What is your personal climate passion, and how do you integrate your professional skills and experiences into the climate work you do

sign at an indigenous taiwanese restaurant stating 'no one is an outsider, love the land'. image provided by lei gu, 2026

One area I’m really interested in, is how we can reconnect with nature, and realise we are really nature ourselves. To me the link feels significant - once there is the realisation that everything is connected, there is more ownership to act. And as a part of this, how can we get more inspiration from traditional wisdoms? 

​At work, we build intentional selections of nature writing, Indigenous writing, and think about how to create events and exhibitions which can get people more interested in these texts. A lot of the events also foster a connection to place, to help ground us in our environments.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your journey, your work or your hopes for the future?

I don't really have anything else to share but I am just really grateful for everyone who's taking action to support better futures. It's inspired and shaped me a lot.