While it seems a real chore at times and one often wonders if it's worth doing, I still think writing submissions and getting involved in consultations is worth doing. The impact is not direct, but it will hopefully help bring about the changes we need. Here is an issue that slips under the radar for most people. But the government is trying to bring in a mandate for the use of biofuels for land transport. There are major problems with biofuels and all the information you need can be found at:
Submissions on the proposed Bill close in a few days. It is really easy to make a submission. Simply saying you support the Don’t Burn Our Future submission would be fine. But its even better if you can personalise the submission a little.
Again, not directly reducing emissions, i feel it's worth joining some groups that are lobbying for change. In New Zealand we cannot drive or fly less easily so need to bring back long distance passenger rail. The Save our Trains group, along with other rail groups, are working hard to achieve this. Having also travelled by overnight bus between Auckland and Wellington to reduce emissions, i look forward to having an overnight train revived.
Hi Melanie, I love this article. Our family had a year of climate action in 2019 where we swore off flying, bought a Nissan Leaf, I started biking to work, we removed our gas connection and installed a heat pump, and we stopped eating meat. I have always been careful about food waste and grow some of my our own food and compost any waste and prefer to buy secondhand. But even all this felt like a drop in the ocean until I started talking about it with others. Several friends now have electric cars, others have moved from tropical island holidays to local ones. I joined Parents for Climate Aotearoa and have worked on a number of submissions on things like the ETS and the Emissions Reduction Plan. I think lots of people think it's all to big and awful to think about. And I understand that as I have read the science and it is truly depressing. But one conversation or tiny action at a time makes me feel better. I look into my kids faces every day and want to be able to say I did everything I could, even if it wasn't enough. Keep up the good work!
We are a small household, the two of us, but we pride ourselves in saying that we're quite eco-friendly. We eat very little meat, we favour plant-based food, we have no car (we walk and take public transport). We take care of not using electricity and gas when not needed and we like local holidays, exploring nearby places. However, it's important to acknowledge we can afford this, especially as we live in a small city (Edinburgh, Scotland) which is easy to walk around.
It’s very interesting to know that dairy is actually more harmful than chicken. I personally do not have any dairy/meat for half the month because of better health and mood around that time of the month and it’s proven to be great for me. The reason I come back to eating them on the other half is simply the taste (I guess). So, maybe putting more effort into finding some new vegan recipes will change the game for the better. Great article!
Just in time for New Year's Resolutions! These are great, practical ideas for how to be more climate-conscious.
And also, great timing for my upcoming newsletter on deforestation -- I'm sending folks to your newsletter because you write so clearly about these issues!
Thank you Melanie! I’m very much like you - living sustainably is always on my goals list. This year I am embracing plant-based eating completely. I’m a week in and enjoying it a lot plus I have already lost s few pounds. No judgment of meat eaters - I grew up on a cattle ranch. If you do eat meat try and get it as direct from the source as possible (would be my tip). We have a garden and compost using layers (leaves, soil, kitchen compost, ash from fire, etc). Unfortunately though it has attracted rodents so worm farms can be a good option if you can keep them alive during the winter (it’s too cold outside here). I buy carbon offsets if I fly but I haven’t traveled over 120 miles from my house in over a year. Wrap your hot water heaters in insulation and clean the back of your refrigerator (it’s the biggest electric guzzler in the house) - couple of tips.
Many things are best when they are new. This is my first post of yours that I decided to read as a new subscriber. While you've been writing for 3+ years, I decided to start in Jan-2023. I enjoy that you are serious in your outlook for many of the climate change challenges yet still remain positive with the impact of individual steps. I think that capturing mind space is the most important. The science, the acceleration of trends are difficult to explain and capture public understanding. Looking forward to reading more and will recommend this to a colleague in a Climate Action group that I have come to know in the last year who also resides in New Zealand. Best luck with your Newsletter and activating your audience.
While it seems a real chore at times and one often wonders if it's worth doing, I still think writing submissions and getting involved in consultations is worth doing. The impact is not direct, but it will hopefully help bring about the changes we need. Here is an issue that slips under the radar for most people. But the government is trying to bring in a mandate for the use of biofuels for land transport. There are major problems with biofuels and all the information you need can be found at:
https://lowcarbonkapiti.org.nz/dont-burn-our-future-stop.../
Submissions on the proposed Bill close in a few days. It is really easy to make a submission. Simply saying you support the Don’t Burn Our Future submission would be fine. But its even better if you can personalise the submission a little.
The site to put in a submission is
https://www.parliament.nz/.../sustainable-biofuel...
The link for submissions got cut off below. Here it is:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/53SCEN_SCF_BILL_129756/sustainable-biofuel-obligation-bill
Again, not directly reducing emissions, i feel it's worth joining some groups that are lobbying for change. In New Zealand we cannot drive or fly less easily so need to bring back long distance passenger rail. The Save our Trains group, along with other rail groups, are working hard to achieve this. Having also travelled by overnight bus between Auckland and Wellington to reduce emissions, i look forward to having an overnight train revived.
Hi Melanie, I love this article. Our family had a year of climate action in 2019 where we swore off flying, bought a Nissan Leaf, I started biking to work, we removed our gas connection and installed a heat pump, and we stopped eating meat. I have always been careful about food waste and grow some of my our own food and compost any waste and prefer to buy secondhand. But even all this felt like a drop in the ocean until I started talking about it with others. Several friends now have electric cars, others have moved from tropical island holidays to local ones. I joined Parents for Climate Aotearoa and have worked on a number of submissions on things like the ETS and the Emissions Reduction Plan. I think lots of people think it's all to big and awful to think about. And I understand that as I have read the science and it is truly depressing. But one conversation or tiny action at a time makes me feel better. I look into my kids faces every day and want to be able to say I did everything I could, even if it wasn't enough. Keep up the good work!
We are a small household, the two of us, but we pride ourselves in saying that we're quite eco-friendly. We eat very little meat, we favour plant-based food, we have no car (we walk and take public transport). We take care of not using electricity and gas when not needed and we like local holidays, exploring nearby places. However, it's important to acknowledge we can afford this, especially as we live in a small city (Edinburgh, Scotland) which is easy to walk around.
It’s very interesting to know that dairy is actually more harmful than chicken. I personally do not have any dairy/meat for half the month because of better health and mood around that time of the month and it’s proven to be great for me. The reason I come back to eating them on the other half is simply the taste (I guess). So, maybe putting more effort into finding some new vegan recipes will change the game for the better. Great article!
Just in time for New Year's Resolutions! These are great, practical ideas for how to be more climate-conscious.
And also, great timing for my upcoming newsletter on deforestation -- I'm sending folks to your newsletter because you write so clearly about these issues!
Thank you Melanie! I’m very much like you - living sustainably is always on my goals list. This year I am embracing plant-based eating completely. I’m a week in and enjoying it a lot plus I have already lost s few pounds. No judgment of meat eaters - I grew up on a cattle ranch. If you do eat meat try and get it as direct from the source as possible (would be my tip). We have a garden and compost using layers (leaves, soil, kitchen compost, ash from fire, etc). Unfortunately though it has attracted rodents so worm farms can be a good option if you can keep them alive during the winter (it’s too cold outside here). I buy carbon offsets if I fly but I haven’t traveled over 120 miles from my house in over a year. Wrap your hot water heaters in insulation and clean the back of your refrigerator (it’s the biggest electric guzzler in the house) - couple of tips.
Many things are best when they are new. This is my first post of yours that I decided to read as a new subscriber. While you've been writing for 3+ years, I decided to start in Jan-2023. I enjoy that you are serious in your outlook for many of the climate change challenges yet still remain positive with the impact of individual steps. I think that capturing mind space is the most important. The science, the acceleration of trends are difficult to explain and capture public understanding. Looking forward to reading more and will recommend this to a colleague in a Climate Action group that I have come to know in the last year who also resides in New Zealand. Best luck with your Newsletter and activating your audience.