In fact there's lots that can be done to address the problem.
If we started climate change ourselves, we can stop it. But we need
a revolution; one that every New Zealander is part of.
In the last edition of the magazine we told you about our
groundbreaking new report New
Zealand Energy Revolution: How to prevent climate chaos, which
sets out how New Zealand can reduce its greenhouse pollution enough
to avoid the worst climate impacts. The report has been well
received by officials, politicians and the media, and formed the
central plank of our submission to the government's climate change
and energy policy review.
We thought it would be useful to paint a picture of how the
revolution might actually work and how achieving emission
reductions big enough and fast enough to deal with climate change
will affect people's everyday lives.
What will it be like living in New Zealand once we have achieved
30% cuts in greenhouse pollution by 2020 and 90% by 2050, relative
to 1990 levels? (Our report concludes these cuts are necessary to
avoid an average global temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius
and the disastrous climate impacts which will occur above this
rise).
Right now, every New Zealander is responsible for 8 tonnes of
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions every year, making us some of the
most polluting people on the planet. By 2050 we need to curb our
polluting tendencies to 1.3 tonnes per each person per year.
There are lots of areas where changes can be made. Consider
this: a large SUV emits 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 travelling 3,000
kilometres, while a more efficient vehicle would have to go over
18,000 km to emit that much; using a top-quality modern fridge uses
half as much electricity as a typical fridge manufactured in or
before 1993, and New Zealanders could save $100million worth of
electricity a year just by turning appliances off standby mode.
A new climate-friendly society will embrace low-impact transport
options like walking, cycling, public transport, car pooling,
efficient vehicles and reducing our need to travel through
combining trips, holidaying closer to home and using telephone and
video conferencing.
But we'll still need to use energy. So where will it come
from?
According to the New Zealand Energy Revolution we can move to a
100% renewable electricity supply by 2025 by using a diverse range
of options including wind, geothermal, biomass, solar (including
solar water heating) and small scale low impact hydro.
But we'll also need to get a lot smarter with our electricity
use. That means our homes will be well-insulated and have solar
water heaters, the old electric heater will be out and highly
efficient wood burners will be in, new homes will be designed to
make the most of "free heating" from the sun, our homes will be
stocked with more efficient appliances and lighting than today's
energy guzzlers, and bikes will replace the "2 or 3 car families"
of today.
What about petrol for transport? Short trips are best replaced
by walking or cycling, but for longer trips public transport will
be the main choice. Electrification of some of our public transport
systems and the introduction of plug-in hybrid vehicles will cut
emissions, as our electricity sector moves to become 100%
renewable.
Filling up at the gas pump will be a thing of the past as many
who still own vehicles will be "plugging-in" to their power sockets
at home. Pricing incentives will make sure the vehicle batteries
are recharged at night during low demand time.
Some biofuel will be available for conventional vehicles; though
the amount will be restricted by how much New Zealand can
sustainably grow at home. Biofuel imports could be introduced once
a sustainability labelling scheme had been developed to prevent the
conversion of important ecosystems or food production land overseas
for biofuel crops.
Efficient and eventually wind powered shipping will replace most
road transport to deliver the food and other products we need. But
there will also be a greater focus on choosing locally produced
items to help reduce transport emissions.
In the climate-friendly society of the future our values will
change so a much greater emphasis is placed on the climate and
environmental impacts of our choices, companies' choices and
Government's choices. It will soon be as unacceptable to leave
lights on when you're not in the room and drive inefficient cars as
it currently is to litter.
We're talking about a world where things are done a bit
differently. While the transition may be challenging, there'll be
many rewards in the end including greater efficiency, a cleaner
environment and improved health thanks to better-insulated homes
and more exercise through walking and cycling for transport.
And of course the planet will be healthier and happier too!
Some of these changes you can start to make right now. Check out
our new Clean Energy
Guide. It'll help you make informed decisions about what energy
company to use.
But some of the bigger changes will require Government
leadership and strong policies, like a price on greenhouse
pollution, targets to reduce emissions and policies to encourage
renewable energy. That's why it's so important you let your
politician know you're taking action and you expect the same from
them.
These are changes that HAVE to happen if we are to avoid climate
disaster, and the faster we embrace them, the easier the transition
and the sooner we can reap the benefits. Let the Energy Revolution
begin!