Rt Hon Helen Clark
4/12/2007
Prime Minister Helen Clark today invited all
New Zealanders to take steps for sustainability
when she launched the Sustainability Challenge
and a new interactive Sustainability Portal
in Wellington today.
"We all need to be part of making our
country truly sustainable," Helen Clark
said.
"This new interactive website is about
giving each of us practical information about
what we can do to help."
"The benefits of individuals taking
steps for sustainability flow far beyond the
environment. Taking steps like insulating
our homes, inflating car tyres correctly,
and walking short distances can save us money
and/or make us healthier or safer.
"The challenge specifically asks New
Zealanders 'What’s your next step?' Everyone
can play a part by taking a step towards sustainability
which works for their lifestyle. The aim of
this challenge is to have as many steps as
possible registered on the new online Sustainability
Portal in the run-up to New Zealand hosting
World Environment Day next June 5."
The launch also comes as the United Nations
negotiations on climate change post 2012 get
under way in Bali this week.
"New Zealand is making real commitments
to tackling climate change now and after 2012
within a broad international framework.
"The Labour-led Government’s move to
introduce an emissions trading scheme and
other measures to tackle New Zealand’s greenhouse
gas emissions gives us credibility internationally
and helps safeguard our markets for goods
and services. Increasingly, consumers in first
world markets want to know whether what they
are buying is sustainably produced.
"The new Sustainability Portal contains
tips about the steps we can take for sustainability,
and online activities such as competitions,
discussions, case studies, films, and blogs.
There is also local and central government
information on support and grants to help
households to become more sustainable."
Helen Clark was the first to register a sustainable
step at www.sustainability.govt.nz today,
deciding to take reuseable bags to the supermarket.
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard also
registered a sustainable step of buying products
with less packaging, or with packaging that
is able to be recycled.
"The Sustainability Challenge is part
of the bigger picture of around 170 sustainability
initiatives by government agencies now underway
targeting action at many levels from the household
to the international arena – all part of the
Labour-led Government's goal of New Zealand
being the first truly sustainable country,"
Trevor Mallard said.
"Households have a significant impact
on the environment – they consume 35 per cent
of the energy generated in New Zealand. So
everyone agreeing to take small steps could
make a big difference. For instance, if every
New Zealand household replaced their four
most used light bulbs with energy saving eco-bulbs
we would save $113 million every year. So
a small step for sustainability is definitely
not to be sniffed at."
Background Information and Sustainable Tips
Background information
Otari School was chosen for the launch of
the Sustainability Challenge and Sustainability
Portal because of the many sustainable actions
the pupils are already taking. They have planted
a vegetable garden, participated in air and
water action programmes and taken other schools
on guided tours of their neighbouring reserve.
The Sustainability Challenge is supported
by the Greater Wellington Regional Council
and Wellington City Council, and will lead
into World Environment Day to be hosted in
Wellington on 5 June 2008.
Other sustainability initiatives announced
by the Prime Minister in February 2007 include
business partnerships for sustainability,
waste minimisation and management, moving
towards a carbon neutral public service, sustainable
government procurement, enhanced eco-verification
and household sustainability.
Suggested Sustainable Steps include:
I’ll buy products with less packaging or recyclable
packaging
I’ll recycle all my paper, plastics, bottles
and tins
I’ll take reuseable bags to the supermarket
I’ll fix leaking taps
I’ll turn off the tap while brushing my teeth
I’ll take shorter showers
I’ll only switch on the washing machine or
dishwasher when they are full
I’ll use eco-bulbs
I’ll switch off all my appliances at the wall
I’ll cold wash my clothes and dry them on
the line
I’ll wrap my hot water cylinder with insulation
I’ll design my new house to face the sun
I’ll buy a fuel efficient car
I’ll walk my kids to school instead of driving
them
I’ll cycle or catch the bus to work
I’ll keep my car tyres inflated to the correct
level
I’ll conserve fuel by sticking to the speed
limit
Sign up at www.sustainability.govt.nz and
commit to taking action today.
Sustainability Challenge Tip Sheet
Did you know that New Zealand households
use nearly 35 per cent of the energy generated
in New Zealand?
Ready to take your next step towards sustainability
and want to know where to start?
These tips are here to help.
Rubbish
Did you know: New Zealanders throw away around
3.6 million tonnes of rubbish every year.
If we were to measure this in 9 tonne buses
it would equate to 400,000 buses of rubbish
- that's more than 1000 buses every day.
(Source: MfE www.reducerubbish.govt.nz/)
Steps you can take:
I’ll buy products with less packaging or recyclable
packaging
I’ll recycle all my paper, plastics, bottles
and tins
I’ll take reuseable bags to the supermarket
I’ll start a compost bin
Water
Did you know: In New Zealand we use 180-300
litres of water per person per day – that’s
18 to 30 buckets a day.
(Source: Dr Maggie Lawton, Braidwood Consulting,
a company providing research information on
sustainable approaches to water).
Steps you can take:
I’ll fix leaking taps
I’ll turn off the tap while brushing my teeth
I’ll take shorter showers
I’ll only switch on the washing machine or
dishwasher when they are full
I’ll use a bucket to clean the car
Energy
Did you know: If every New Zealand household
replaced their four most used light bulbs
with eco-bulbs, we would save about $113 million
a year. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authority estimates that around half New Zealand
households have already taken this step.
(Source:EECA)
Steps you can take:
I’ll use eco-bulbs
I’ll switch off all my appliances at the wall
I’ll turn my hot water cylinder down to 55
0C
I’ll cold wash my clothes and dry them on
the line
Building
Did you know: About six tonnes of waste is
generated during the construction of an average
three-bedroom home.
(Source: Smarterhomes www.smarterhomes.org.nz/construction)
Steps you can take:
I’ll consider using recycled materials when
I renovate my home
I’ll trim the trees back from the windows
I’ll wrap my hot water cylinder with insulation
I’ll design my new house to face the sun
Transport
Did you know: New Zealanders use an average
of 10 barrels of petroleum products per person
per year, most of this is used for transport.
(Source: MED Energy Data File June 2007 page
35 www.med.govt.nz/upload/48437/006-200707-d.pdf)
[Bandwidth warning: 2.8Mb .pdf file]
Steps you can take:
I’ll buy a fuel efficient car
I’ll walk my kids to school instead of driving
them
I’ll cycle or catch the bus to work
I’ll keep my car tyres inflated to the correct
level
I’ll stick to the speed limit
Sign up at www.sustainability.govt.nz from
midday, 4 December.
