Waitematā Low Carbon Network

Auckland Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and developed the 2020 Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan to reduce Auckland’s carbon emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Local Boards have a role to lead a response to this climate emergency though their local board plans with goals and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.  

The Waitematā Local Board (WLB) was the first local board to develop a Low Carbon Action Plan in 2015 to look at how local communities can reduce greenhouse emissions. WLB continues to lead a response to the climate emergency and supports climate change goals through Local Board plans. The latest Local Board Plan 2023 supports climate action as a goal and aims to empower communities to reduce their carbon emissions and to be energy efficient. 

The Waitematā Climate Action Network is funded by Waitematā Local Board to hold community engagements at Farmer’s markets in Grey Lynn and Parnell and some libraries. These engagements promote a climate action tool, FutureFit –  how to Live Lightly and also advocacy on climate change. These are ways increase climate  change awareness at a local level.

FutureFit is a simple and effective tool for people to engage with climate change. New Zealand emission and household spending data is combined with personal information like household size, income and lifestyle to work out their own carbon footprint.

Live Lightly promotes the idea that every choice matters on the journey towards sustainable living and our engagement stalls offer insights and tips and resources to help live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Waitematā Climate Action Network engagement stalls are an effective way to encourage local people to think about how to reduce their carbon emissions in their daily lives and to make changes to achieve this.  TBehaviour change such as holidays closer to home and fewer flights, using public transport, taking shorter showers and reducing meat intake.

If we all reduce our footprint by a little or a lot, then the savings will add up.