100 signatures reached
To: Hamilton City Council
Hamilton: Our Climate Actions
1) The Hamilton City Council signs the ‘Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration’
We acknowledge the work the Hamilton City Council has done thus far to address environmental issues, but we want a commitment to be made that Hamilton will work alongside other cities and the central government to reduce New Zealand’s overall carbon footprint.
2) Declare a climate emergency, locally and nationally.
Our planet is in a state of crisis. All reports show that action needs to be taken immediately before further damage is caused. Hamilton needs to be vocal about the urgency this situation requires to its residents, businesses, and central government.
3) Set a more ambitious timeframe for going carbon zero.
2050 is 15 years past the point of no return yet that is the time at which New Zealand will be considered “Carbon Zero” The Zero Carbon act needs to be a priority.
4) Support the creation of Circular Economies
A circular economy is a self-sustaining system driven by renewable energy with an imperative to keep material resources in use, or ‘circulating’ for as long as possible. It extracts the maximum value from these resources while in use, then recovers and regenerates products and materials. The Council should provide a leadership role in encouraging businesses to adopt circular economy principles.
5) Actively adopt the Waikato Regional Council’s vision of ‘being a Zero Waste’ region.
Seek to reduce waste to landfill and methane production through implementing tougher waste reduction policies, for example, diverting construction and demolition rubble and organic waste from landfill
6) Implement tougher waste reduction policies.
Although Hamilton City Council has “sustainability principle 10” defined as “Council works with its communities to minimise the production of waste and maximise opportunities to recycle,” the actions that have been taken as a result of this principle has had little to do with plastic reduction and the educational campaign “fight the landfill” has not been promoted or imposed as much as it should be. Furthermore, construction and demolition materials is the largest waste to landfill material (27%) and yet, the only measure taken to minimise this is that “Contractors are required to dispose of any building materials/refuse in the most environmentally friendly manner feasible.”
7) Combine the effort from the government and industries to ban both soft plastics and plastics 3-7 and start the onshore recycling of plastics 1-2.
New policies need to be implemented regarding the complete ban of soft plastics and plastics 3-7. According to a report done by 1NN, plastics 1-2 are able to be recycled onshore while zero value plastics 3-7 are sent to countries like Indonesia which have experienced extreme pollution because of our actions. Instead of exporting our waste residue overseas, we need to hold ourselves accountable.
8) Divert compostable waste from landfill through food waste collection for residents and businesses and organic recycling.
It is estimated that 26% of municipal waste in the Waikato Region is putrescible (green and organic waste). It is the largest component of household waste to landfill. Diverting compostable waste from landfill will reduce methane emissions and provide organic compost for soil regeneration.
9) Increase the area of indigenous vegetation cover to 30% of the area of Hamilton City.
There are huge amounts of empty/sparse spaces in the city that has the potential to have indigenous vegetation planted or at least, incorporated into the city plan’s design. Currently, indigenous vegetation only covers around 1.5% of Hamilton which is dismal.
10) Implement mandatory educational programs surrounding conservation and consumer education.
This is severely lacking in New Zealand, let alone Hamilton. Integration of educational programs surrounding environmentalism needs to be established in the school education system. This information also needs to be displayed clearly in places of consumption such as supermarkets.
11) Free buses for under 18 year olds
This will encourage the younger generation to utilize public transportation as opposed to private transportation.
We acknowledge the work the Hamilton City Council has done thus far to address environmental issues, but we want a commitment to be made that Hamilton will work alongside other cities and the central government to reduce New Zealand’s overall carbon footprint.
2) Declare a climate emergency, locally and nationally.
Our planet is in a state of crisis. All reports show that action needs to be taken immediately before further damage is caused. Hamilton needs to be vocal about the urgency this situation requires to its residents, businesses, and central government.
3) Set a more ambitious timeframe for going carbon zero.
2050 is 15 years past the point of no return yet that is the time at which New Zealand will be considered “Carbon Zero” The Zero Carbon act needs to be a priority.
4) Support the creation of Circular Economies
A circular economy is a self-sustaining system driven by renewable energy with an imperative to keep material resources in use, or ‘circulating’ for as long as possible. It extracts the maximum value from these resources while in use, then recovers and regenerates products and materials. The Council should provide a leadership role in encouraging businesses to adopt circular economy principles.
5) Actively adopt the Waikato Regional Council’s vision of ‘being a Zero Waste’ region.
Seek to reduce waste to landfill and methane production through implementing tougher waste reduction policies, for example, diverting construction and demolition rubble and organic waste from landfill
6) Implement tougher waste reduction policies.
Although Hamilton City Council has “sustainability principle 10” defined as “Council works with its communities to minimise the production of waste and maximise opportunities to recycle,” the actions that have been taken as a result of this principle has had little to do with plastic reduction and the educational campaign “fight the landfill” has not been promoted or imposed as much as it should be. Furthermore, construction and demolition materials is the largest waste to landfill material (27%) and yet, the only measure taken to minimise this is that “Contractors are required to dispose of any building materials/refuse in the most environmentally friendly manner feasible.”
7) Combine the effort from the government and industries to ban both soft plastics and plastics 3-7 and start the onshore recycling of plastics 1-2.
New policies need to be implemented regarding the complete ban of soft plastics and plastics 3-7. According to a report done by 1NN, plastics 1-2 are able to be recycled onshore while zero value plastics 3-7 are sent to countries like Indonesia which have experienced extreme pollution because of our actions. Instead of exporting our waste residue overseas, we need to hold ourselves accountable.
8) Divert compostable waste from landfill through food waste collection for residents and businesses and organic recycling.
It is estimated that 26% of municipal waste in the Waikato Region is putrescible (green and organic waste). It is the largest component of household waste to landfill. Diverting compostable waste from landfill will reduce methane emissions and provide organic compost for soil regeneration.
9) Increase the area of indigenous vegetation cover to 30% of the area of Hamilton City.
There are huge amounts of empty/sparse spaces in the city that has the potential to have indigenous vegetation planted or at least, incorporated into the city plan’s design. Currently, indigenous vegetation only covers around 1.5% of Hamilton which is dismal.
10) Implement mandatory educational programs surrounding conservation and consumer education.
This is severely lacking in New Zealand, let alone Hamilton. Integration of educational programs surrounding environmentalism needs to be established in the school education system. This information also needs to be displayed clearly in places of consumption such as supermarkets.
11) Free buses for under 18 year olds
This will encourage the younger generation to utilize public transportation as opposed to private transportation.
Why is this important?
We are committed to the relationships and responsibilities enshrined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi including a commitment to ensuring the rights of mana whenua as kaitaki.
The proposed “Climate Change Declaration Act” was signed by 54 mayors and council chairs, yet, Hamilton remains absent from the list of signatures. On the 24th of May, we struck from our schools to show the Hamilton City Council and Parliament the urgency that climate action requires.
The latest IPCC report makes it clear that a 1.5 °C rise, will lead to widespread suffering, mass migration, irreversible damage to the natural world, and massive damage to the world economy. The earth’s average temperature has already risen 1 °C. A recent study from ESD has calculated a “Point of no return.” After we cross this point, keeping the earth’s temperature from rising 2 °C, the tipping point of irreversible damage, will be “almost impossible.”
The “Point of no return” in question is the year 2029.
10 years from now.
We are in a state of climate emergency.
We need strong leadership from local government to signal to all Hamiltonians - businesses, communities, institutions and individual citizens that significant action must be taken now.
By signing this petition I am showing you my need for immediate climate change action to be taken.
Here is the link to the full petition: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VL4Y8RSfbHQ6CK9ThYWKfOCUtbjAomErcXpR2VSRAuA/edit?usp=sharing
The proposed “Climate Change Declaration Act” was signed by 54 mayors and council chairs, yet, Hamilton remains absent from the list of signatures. On the 24th of May, we struck from our schools to show the Hamilton City Council and Parliament the urgency that climate action requires.
The latest IPCC report makes it clear that a 1.5 °C rise, will lead to widespread suffering, mass migration, irreversible damage to the natural world, and massive damage to the world economy. The earth’s average temperature has already risen 1 °C. A recent study from ESD has calculated a “Point of no return.” After we cross this point, keeping the earth’s temperature from rising 2 °C, the tipping point of irreversible damage, will be “almost impossible.”
The “Point of no return” in question is the year 2029.
10 years from now.
We are in a state of climate emergency.
We need strong leadership from local government to signal to all Hamiltonians - businesses, communities, institutions and individual citizens that significant action must be taken now.
By signing this petition I am showing you my need for immediate climate change action to be taken.
Here is the link to the full petition: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VL4Y8RSfbHQ6CK9ThYWKfOCUtbjAomErcXpR2VSRAuA/edit?usp=sharing