We hear our friends and our family asking: What can we do about climate change? Here are some immediate actions you can take. This slidedeck will be revised and updated as more information becomes available. Common Climate Network is a group of New Zealanders who want to spread positive, concrete actions we can all take in our daily lives to influence system change.

1. What can I do about
climate change?
Provided by: Common Climate Network
www.commonclimate.nz
Facebook: commonclimatenz

2. 1. Energy
 Increase use of renewable
energy for electricity
 Phase out use of fossil fuels
3. Transport
 More electric vehicles and
alternative transport
 Convert freight to electric/
hydrogen/biofuels or find other
efficiencies.
2. Agriculture
 Reduce the emissions from meat
and dairy production
 Reduce consumption of meat and
dairy
 Reduce food waste
 Halt or reverse deforestation
4. Innovation
 New Zealand can help companies
with our agricultural & renewable
energy expertise
What needs to happen globally?

3.  If we act now we can reduce carbon
emissions and slow the rate of
change.
 Action in New Zealand can influence
international action
 Our innovation could lead the way.
What can New Zealand do about it?

4.  National and international efforts
often start with individual and local
actions
 New Zealanders can work together to
give our actions more impact
What can I do about it?

5.  Taking action will have other benefits
and create opportunities such as
healthier families and new industries
and jobs
 The climate crisis is a challenge we
can overcome
Why should we act?

6.  If you hear your friends or whānau talking about
the climate
 If you see weather patterns changing
 If you’re worried about insuring or future
proofing your home or business
 If you are concerned about the future of the
planet
Are you ready to consider action?
=> Then climate issues could be important
to you.

7. Colmar Brunton, 2019
� More than 80%, including businesses, believe
that climate change is happening.
� 88% want companies to do more
� 76% want the government to do more.
� 79% say they could be doing more to act on
climate change themselves. (EECA/TRA 2019)
More than half of NZers are highly
concerned about climate change

8. 1. Public support for passing Zero Carbon
legislation - introduced May 2019
2. Elect local body officials committed to taking
action - Oct 2019
3. Elect Members of Parliament committed to
taking action - 2020
4. Businesses, industry, agriculture reducing
emissions
5. Individuals and communities: reduce our own
emissions and support groups that are making
the changes we want to see
System change: What would make the
biggest difference for NZ?

9. 1. Check you are enrolled for local body elections in
Oct 2019 www.elections.org.nz
2. Encourage your friends and family to enrol and
vote
3. Buy from companies reducing their own emissions
www.climateleaderscoalition.org.nz
4. Join a local tree-planting group (via Facebook)
5. Set up a $5, $10, $20 recurring donation to a
group(s) making the changes you want to see.
What can I do in the next week?

10. 6. Find out which local body candidates support
climate-friendly policies
7. Make a submission supporting the
Government’s Clean Cars proposal
8. Switch your Kiwisaver to a fund that doesn’t
invest in fossil fuels
9. Switch to a power company with 100%
renewable electricity
10. Make a submission on the next stage of the
Zero Carbon Bill www.zerocarbonact.nz
What can I do in the next month?

11. 1. Transport
• Increase cycling, public transport
use, car pooling
• Replace old cars with electric
• Offset your emissions if you have
to fly
4. Support
• Renewable energy projects overseas
• Businesses and policies for
innovation
Other actions you can take locally
2. Shop
• Locally
• Second-hand
• From low-emissions companies
3. Food
• Eat more plant-based meals
• Compost your food waste
• Buy from low-emissions producers
• Support local community gardens,
zero waste, food waste schemes
For additional tips, see Ministry for
the Environment:
www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/

12. Voting for city, district and regional councils
happens in Sept-Oct 2019.
Local government decisions that impact climate
change the most relate to:
 Public and active transport
 Congestion or low emissions zones
 Urban development that is energy efficient
 Local councils working together on solutions
1. Local body elections 2019

13.  You should have received your enrolment update pack
by now. If not, check you are correctly enrolled at
www.elections.org.nz
 16 August: Enrolment closes for the printed electoral
roll
 20–25 September: Voting documents sent to all
enrolled voters
 11 October: Last day to enrol to vote in the local
elections
 Saturday, 12 October: Voting closes at midday
Enrol and vote

14. Combine your actions with others. In the documentary Fools
and Dreamers, when Hugh Wilson teamed up with Maurice
White to establish Hinewai Nature Reserve they achieved so
much more than each of them could alone.
Encourage your friends and family to enrol and vote
for candidates who will take climate action
 Talk to people around you
 Spread the word through your communities
 Get active on social media
2. Spread the word

15. Businesses that are reducing their emissions:
 Climate Leaders Coalition
www.climateleaderscoalition.org.nz
How can your business reduce its emissions?
 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
 Enviro-Mark Solutions
 Sustainable Business Council quick guide
3. Low emissions businesses

16. Short-term
 Smarter use of fertiliser
 Fencing off waterways
 Low-emissions feed
Long-term
 Planting more trees
 Changing what we farm
How can agriculture reduce its
emissions?

17. Taking part in regenerating the land around us with
plants and trees, or joining beach clean ups, can
boost good mental health for us and our whānau.
• Join a local tree-planting or beach cleanup group
• Plant more in your own garden
• Plant more in local public areas
4. Get hands-on
If 1 plant was planted for everyone living in New Zealand every
month, that would be 4.9m plants per month to help our earth
and ourselves. (www.stats.govt.nz March 2019 pop. Estimate)

18. Set up a $5, $10, $20 recurring donation to a group/s
making the changes you want to see.
Some ideas:
 www.treesthatcount.co.nz
 www.forestandbird.org.nz
 www.wwf.org.nz
 www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/
 www.ran.org
 www.avaaz.org
 happenfilms.com
5. Regular support

19.  Talk about donating with your friends and
family
 Give donations for birthday and Christmas gifts
 Organise a fundraising activity
 Make one of these groups a beneficiary in your
will
If $1 was donated for everyone living in New Zealand every
week, that would be $4.9m per week to help our earth and
ourselves. (www.stats.govt.nz March 2019 pop. Estimate)

20.  Who are your local candidates?
Nominations open 19 July, candidates are
announced 21 August.
 Where do they stand on climate action?
 What are your council’s current zero carbon
plans?
6. Local body elections: Find out

21.  Making electric & low-emissions cars cheaper
and higher-emissions cars more expensive will
help us reduce transport emissions.
 Most countries already have similar policies.
 Consultation documents:
https://transport.govt.nz/multi-modal/climatechange/electric-vehicles/clean-cars/
 Make a submission by 20 August.
7. Support the Clean Cars proposal

22.  Does your Kiwisaver provider invest in fossil fuel
companies?
 Switch to a provider that doesn’t:
https://350.org.nz/kiwisaver-switch-guide/
 Get advice on ethical investing, eg Mindful
Money https://mindfulmoney.nz/
 Does your bank invest in fossil fuels?
 Switch your mortgage to one that doesn’t
https://350.org.nz/current-campaigns/fossil-free-banks/
8. Switch your Kiwisaver

23.  New Zealand’s power is 80% renewable
 We need more investment in renewables
 You can support companies with renewable
energy
 More information: www.canstarblue.co.nz/energy/100-per-
cent-renewable-goal
 What’s My Number www.whatsmynumber.org.nz
9. Switch to 100% renewable
electricity

24.  Get familiar with the summary and main points of
the Zero Carbon Act
See: https://zerocarbonact.nz/zca-summary/ (Generation Zero)
 Tell your local MP you support the bill.
www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/
https://www.oxfam.org.nz/want-contact-mp-about-climate-change-issues
 Make a submission at each stage of the
legislation – Next deadline in late 2019
See: www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/zero-carbon-amendment-bill
 Sign petitions supporting the Bill.
10. Support the Zero Carbon Bill

25. � Bloomberg, Michael and Pope, Carl. 2018. Climate of
Hope
� Berners-Lee, Mike. 2019. There Is No Planet B: A
Handbook for the Make or Break Years
� Exponential Climate Action Roadmap.
https://exponentialroadmap.org/
� Gameau, Damon. 2019. 2040: A Handbook for the
Regeneration
� Hall, David. 2019. A Careful Revolution
� Hawken, Paul. 2017. Drawdown: The Most
Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Roll Back
Global Warming
� Kalmus, Peter. 2017. Being the Change – Live well
and spark a climate revolution
Further reading

26. � TRA booklet Let’s Talk Climate Change, TRA, 2019, Tra.co.nz
 Colmar Brunton Better Futures report 2018,
https://www.colmarbrunton.co.nz/news/better-futures-report/
 EECA media release, New Zealanders open to doing more to tackle climate change,
March 26 2019 https://www.eeca.govt.nz/news-and-events/media-releases/new-
zealanders-open-to-doing-more-to-tackle-climate-change/
� https://www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/we-all-have-role-play/what-you-can-do-
about-climate-change
� https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Local-Elections-Local-
Authority-Election-Statistics-2016?OpenDocument
� https://www.elections.org.nz/events/2017-general-election/2017-general-election-
results/voter-turnout-statistics
� https://www.sbc.org.nz/resources/guides/quick-guide-emissions-measurement-and-
management
� http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1907/S00064/govt-proposing-to-make-clean-cars-
cheaper.htm
References