Youth Join Call to Confront Critical Risks

Youth organisation Generation Zero has joined with over 100 prominent New Zealanders in demanding that Parliament assess and respond to “unprecedented threats to our collective security” arising from the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The ‘risk appeal’, which calls for a ‘dispassionate’ assessment of five key risks, was launched in Dunedin today. Over 100 people attended the event, where engineering, business and science experts all warned that the threat of climate change and the challenge of limited oil, coal and gas resources pose an immense risk to New Zealand society.

Generation Zero spokesperson, Louis Chambers, told the crowd: “Young people are the canaries in the coal mine. Our generation is acutely aware of the need for action because we’ll spend our whole lives cleaning up this mess.”

The event was attended by representatives of Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Generation Zero members handed politicians photos showcasing New Zealanders' visions for how the country could move beyond fossil fuels. The photos had been gathered from towns throughout the country as part of the launch of Generation Zero’s 100% Possible campaign,

Chambers says: “We wanted to show that our generation is ready to get going, and we’re asking all political parties to join us in building the infrastructure necessary to shift New Zealand beyond fossil fuels.”

Chambers: “This won’t be easy, but preparing for the future is everyone’s business, and we have to work together to face up to these risks.”

The organisers will seek further signatures for the risk appeal before presenting the appeal to political parties in a few months’ time.

ENDS

About Generation Zero and 100% Possible
Generation Zero is an independent youth organisation seeking to catalyse action on climate change and work towards creating a zero carbon Aotearoa. For more information see:
http://generationzero.org.nz
www.facebook.com/GenerationZero

100% Possible is a new joint campaign by Generation Zero and 350 Aotearoa, and supported by WWF, focusing on the realistic options available to start moving New Zealand beyond fossil fuels. For more information see:
http://100percentpossible.org.nz

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