Kiwi version of global climate movement takes off

Cutting our carbon by 10% in 2010

21 April 2010 Media Release - T: 03 960 2656 - nz@1010global.org

Kiwi version of global climate movement takes off
- by bus!

A cheerful bunch of bus passengers spent a city circuit journey this week debating the pros and cons of car travel (note 1). They spotted enough connections between lifestyle choices and carbon footprint to become supporters of 10:10NZ.

Ten-Ten is an ambitious project to unite communities around the world behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in carbon emissions - without waiting for politicians to agree.

It has been launched here this month, on the website www.1010global.org/nz. The target is 10% reduction of carbon emissions by participants in twelve months, starting in 2010.

Founded in the UK by a team including New Zealand independent film producer Lizzie Gillett (note 2), Ten-Ten is a people's movement, now going global, that embraces households, schools, companies, local government and MPs.

Lizzie Gillett says: "In The UK, the 10:10 campaign aims to cut carbon emissions by 10% during 2010. It has amassed huge cross-societal support including Adidas, Microsoft, Tottenham Hotspurs Football club, 55,000 individuals, 1,500 schools, and a third of local councils (representing 25 million people), all the cabinet and the Prime Minister."

"When you see everyone from your local butcher to multinational corporations 'doing' 10:10, and cutting their carbon emissions, it makes your own personal commitment feel more than a drop in the ocean, because it brings all our actions together."

"I'm from Dunedin, so I couldn't be happier that the most beautiful country in the world, New Zealand, is now joining the global citizens’ movement to show politicians what real climate leadership looks like."

"New Zealand has an overseas reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest countries in the world yet our per person carbon footprints are amongst the highest - almost double that of Europeans. Let's show the world how truly green we are by taking practical action now along with the 10:10 global movement," says Gillett.

1010NZ Christchurch spokesperson Rhys Taylor agrees: "It is a first and easily attainable step towards emission reductions that the planet and future human generations will surely need. International Conventions and treaties may eventually help, but we are not simply waiting and hoping, because taking action is possible right now."
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Taylor sees a useful link between 1010NZ's awareness-raising and existing education for environmental action such as the local government-led Sustainable Living programme, now in 23 council areas of NZ (note 3), and Enviroschools.

Ten-TenNZ participants are working towards:
* trimming our use of vehicle and aviation fuels (less fossil carbon burned),
* efficiencies in home electric power consumption (part of NZ generation uses fossil carbon from gas and coal, alongside renewable geothermal, wind and hydro.)
* no paper or organic waste sent to landfill (methane creation avoided) and
* less frequent red meat and dairy consumption, by enjoying more meat-free meals (less livestock-gut methane released).
* many small, practical actions which all add up (detail at www.sustainableliving.org.nz/pdf/Save-ten-percent-carbon-in-2010-v7.pdf )

Taylor explains: "It's an easy figure to handle - for example 10% represents one of 10 weekday commuter journeys, either to or from work, switched from driving a car to walking or cycling. Walk or cycle both there and back one day in five to knock an easy 20% off fuel demand for that week's commuting. If a bus traveller or car-sharer, your journey still requires fuel consumption, but significantly less per person than driving alone. Car sharing or using a bus to go both in and back on one day in five would achieve the passenger's 10% drop in commuting fuel. That's not hard to do, is it?" (note 4)

"10:10NZ has initially focussed on households, providing a free checklist for action on the website < www.1010global.org/sites/default/files/FamilyChecklistNZ.pdf > a blog and a Facebook page for fans to get updates < www.facebook.com/1010global#!/pages/1010nz/107129489310303 >.

You can make a pledge to begin your action at the ten-tenNZ website http://www.1010global.org/nz or by email to nz@1010global.org

Lizzie Gillett arrived in London from New Zealand in 2001, where she'd been working in TV. She started volunteering at Spanner Films and by the end of 2004 was appointed Producer for 'The Age of Stupid'. On the five-year production she managed a crew of 105 people in six countries, helped raise over £700,000 through the pioneering crowd-funding model, and organised both the Guinness World Record beating UK premiere, and the Global Premiere, which took place across 700+ cinemas in more than 35 countries, including NZ.

Note 3: Sustainable Living Education Trust is a community education and information provider < http://www.sustainableliving.org.nz/Newsletter.aspx > supported by local government, schools and polytechnics, and for occasional projects, by Ministry for the Environment Sustainable Management Fund. It operates independent of central Government policy, but publicises relevant Government public information and grant services, such as energywise homes from EECA < http://www.eeca.govt.nz >

Note 4: Rhys Taylor from Sustainable Living (and a Christchurch volunteer for 1010NZ) will be speaking on energy-efficient travel themes at the public Energy Week sessions hosted in Christchurch Art Gallery by the City Council, on Tuesday 4 May and Thurs 6th alongside a range of other guests.
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