Code Red has been developed by the Nelson Environment Centre. It receives some funding from the Nelson City Council and great prizes from our wonderful sponsors!
what's the big deal anyway?
Climate change is arguably the greatest threat facing us today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says many parts of the planet are already warmer as a result of global warming. Droughts, floods and other forms of extreme weather will become more frequent, affecting not only people's lives, houses, possessions and livelihoods but also threatening food supplies. Plants and animals which cannot adjust will die out. Sea levels are rising and will continue to do so, forcing hundreds of thousands of people in coastal zones to migrate (United Nations Environment Programme).
Many of these issues are likely to affect New Zealand, with increased temperatures, rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events such as droughts and floods all considered likely by the Ministry for the Environment.
what can I do?
There are a lot of things we can do - some very simple, some more challenging. By reducing our carbon pollution we can help reduce global warming, while developing a local community and economy which is healthier and more resilient to outside influences, including issues like Peak Oil.
Businesses are also under pressure to improve efficiencies, reduce carbon pollution and become more resilient. The good news is that 95% of businesses can make quick and easy savings and emission reductions at no cost starting NOW!
why energy, transport, waste, water and nature?
These five themes cover most of the actions we undertake in our daily lives which have an effect on climate change and global warming - to find out more about each of these, click on the links below.
energy and climate change
transport and climate change
waste and climate change
water and climate change
nature and climate change