Wellington, 2/6/09:

Hundreds Plan to Freeze for Climate Action on World Environment Day

Thousands of people will come to a standstill on New Zealand’s streets this Friday, World Environment Day, to call for action on climate change. The official theme of the United Nations day is ‘Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change’.

350 Aotearoa will be one of numerous groups participating in the five-minute freeze, which will be held in centres all over New Zealand.

Founder of 350 Aotearoa, Aaron Packard, says that the freeze is about taking five minutes to stop and stand for urgent action on climate change. “This year is the last window of opportunity we have to secure a stable climate for future generations.”

In December the world’s leaders will meet in Copenhagen to negotiate the shape of a new treaty to cut carbon emissions.

“We need to make sure that this agreement will move us towards what the most recent science says is a safe concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere - no more than 350 parts per million. We're currently at 387 ppm and rising steadily. In the six months before the negotiations, we need to make sure that this most important of numbers is also the most well known of numbers - and that it becomes a bottom line for our politicians.”

Friday’s simultaneous nationwide freeze is the first of thousands of events that will be taking place throughout the country and around the world in the lead up to December’s negotiations.

350 Aotearoa is a part of the global movement, 350.org, which is calling on people to join an International Day of Climate Action on October 24th 2009. Already over 1000 actions are planned for October 24th - from farmers in the Cameroon to the Dalai Lama in India.

Details of Friday’s ‘freeze’ events at http://freezenz.wordpress.com/. The exact locations of the freeze events will only be revealed on the day, so budding participants are asked to register online to be kept informed about where they can take part.

Freezes are currently registered for - Auckland Wellington Nelson Christchurch Dunedin

World Environment Day will also mark the launch of the New Zealand Climate Action Partnership, which aspires to work collaboratively on climate change issues in New Zealand. 350 Aotearoa supports the initiative, and looks forward to working with NZCAP in the lead up to Copenhagen. More details about 350 Aotearoa are available at: www.350.org.nz The global site for 350 is at: www.350.org

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