Start a petition for the environment 

Is there an environmental issue you need to mobilise your community around? The Greenpeace Community platform is available to start a campaign today. Create a petition, launch your campaign and build a movement for your cause. 

Everyone has the ability to spark change for a more just, healthy and sustainable world – for the planet, animal life, and for people. 

In your local region you’ll know what the key issues are, and the possible solutions. Share your cause to meet the key people also concerned about it and give you the chance to meet the decision makers personally.

Greenpeace campaigners will be on hand to support you each step of the way. If you’d like to talk with someone about an idea for a campaign before launching a petition, email us at [email protected].

Why start a petition? 

How is a petition useful in a campaign? A petition can be: 

• A simple action for anyone, no matter how old or young, urban or rural, to join together and show support;
• A way to spark important and necessary conversations about the environment in your community or network focused on one issue;
• A way to build and nurture a community of supporters; you can email the petition signers at any time, to organise and collaborate as needed;
• A way to show, and effectively channel, the public support that already exists to address the issue to the decision makers; 
• A way to engage with local political processes. By delivering the petition to your local Council for example, you’ll put the issue on the agenda, and have a chance to speak to the issues;
• A way to start conversations with local community leaders, politicians, businesses, personalities, academics, creatives – people who may influence the public conversation.

Once launched the Greenpeace crew can help promote and are able to share tips on how to build a petition-based, people-powered campaign.

A petition is a tactic within a campaign

A petition may be one ask that leads to a bigger goal. Each petition has a sharp, specific, single ‘ask’, within a campaign. When you ask for something specific it creates a ‘yes/no’ proposition, so the person accepting the petition has to take a position.

For example Christine started a petition to ask Christchurch to not host a high speed sailing race Hector’s Dolphin marine sanctuary. It’s one goal among many necessary steps to protect the threatened Hector’s. Christine is using the petition to challenge the agency ChristchurchNZ to prioritise the welfare of the dolphins over the race.  

You don’t need thousands of signatures to win an ask if you have a bunch of passionate people who care about the issue. Building power to effect change is about understanding what limited resources we have, can find, and can grow, and then work out how to use them in a way that creates an advantage. 

A clear goal is like a banner around which people can show up. Use tactics to gather active support and show decision makers that support. Collect signatures, organise events, hold visible actions, take part in political processes. When all else fails consider direct action to stop harms from happening. 

Check out our tips and resources page for ideas on choosing tactics and communicating a campaign for change.  

How can I start a petition?

Anyone can launch a petition and organise events using the digital tools on Greenpeace Community. 

1. Be clear on your issue, what solution is needed, and who can make that happen.
2. Go to Greenpeace Community and fill in the fields to set up your petition. 
3. The Greenpeace crew will review your petition and get in touch straightaway. 
4. Once approved you’ll be able to launch your campaign and share with your network.
5. The platform tools allow you to grow support, communicate with the signers directly and organise events.
6. When you’re ready download and deliver the petition!

What is Greenpeace Community?

Greenpeace Community is a petition platform which hosts, nurtures and profiles community-led campaigns and events across Aotearoa.

In the face of the climate crisis and threats to biodiversity we’re all called on to speak up and stand up for Planet Earth. Over 75% of New Zealand’s native reptile, bird, bat and freshwater fish species are either threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened.

Yet we all know a better world is possible, and believe that our collective courage and action can make that world a reality.

People across Aotearoa are using the digital tools of the Community platform to protect the purity of natural springs in Nelson, speak up for native wildlife in Canterbury, protect their local beaches in Auckland, and for better regulation that respects the limits of the planet Earth. 

What are the key environmental challenges in your region? What are the threats to the health of your local stream, wildlife or catchment? From your experience and perspective what solution is needed to heal the whenua? 

Everyday people can lead change for the environment in their communities. Often the people best suited to stand up for an issue are those most affected. 

Powered by Greenpeace

Why does Greenpeace run a petition platform? Our vision is a world that puts people and planet first, above profit. People power is how we do that.

In the face of so many threats to biodiversity, oceans, land, and climate, our planet needs more of us to stand up for the environment. It needs a wealth of solutions and we don’t need to wait for permission to act. 

The Greenpeace crew are sailing among a flotilla of many ships. Sailing together we win! All the campaigns you see on the Community platform work towards protecting Earth’s ability to sustain life, and for Papatūānuku to thrive. The success of community-led campaigning working for all life strengthens the impact of all our efforts together.