10 Green Commitments
to ensure a more
Sustainable World for our Children
Understanding why we have climate change and how we can solve it.
It starts with us!
Support green endeavours and associations
This includes legislation that protects the earth.
Consider getting involved in green ventures in your neighbourhood. Think of joining Greenpeace or Avaaz.org, a growing global campaign network of 40 million people, or similar organisations, which raise the awareness of environmental destruction and confront our leaders for solutions. Be open to the possibility of paying tax on your carbon footprint, such as a pro rata tax on the CO² emissions of a new car. Smokestack industries should also pay a carbon tax for the pollution they cause, the funds of which should be ring fenced to promote cleaner technologies. This carbon tax should replace the unworkable and discredited emissions trading scheme (ETS). New Zealand has the lowest carbon cost of 26 ETS schemes administered by the World Bank at 30c per ton and only a fraction of the country’s emissions are subject to the tax (48). The Green Party’s estimate of $25 is far more realistic. Many countries (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland to name a few) have already implemented a carbon tax but alas not NZ.
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was a positive mind shift. Too many nations, including NZ, have wriggled out of meeting the targets and even NZ’s National government has turned its back on the protocol. Global emissions have climbed 30% since Kyoto (5). Some good news is that climate change was placed on the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014 and both the United States and China have made an agreement to reduce their emissions. Governments have to show greater foresight and leadership in promoting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable economy. With the right incentives and disincentives (taxes) they can ensure cleaner energy, cleaner transport, increased organic and sustainable farming, cleaner rivers, less waste and more recycling. They can also encourage the development of cleaner technologies. We vote for our governments; we must ensure that green issues get prominence.
Tropical fish amongst coral Source: dreamstime.com
