Featured Links

Climate Change

Climate change is already happening.  It is likely to cause more frequent and extreme weather events – floods, storms, cyclones, droughts and slips – as well as rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

These changes could affect our homes, our health, our economy, buildings and infrastructure, industries and New Zealand’s unique plants and animals.

Climate Change for Dummies is a great introduction into what climate change/global warming is and what it means to us.

Check out the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for answers to frequently asked questions.

Also check out this climate change site for kids!

Make a difference...

So how are you doing in terms of taking action?  Check out Play it Cool and find out - are you as good as you think you are?

Environment Bay of Plenty provides good local information on climate change, as does the Ministry for the Environment.

Calculate your personal Carbon Footprint, and find out other ways you can take action to reduce your contribution to climate change.

If you are looking for more in-depth information, the following links will prove useful:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• International Human Dimensions Programme.
• Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
• World Resources Institute.

What can you do?

Imagine the kind of world you want for your whanau or families future?  Imagine it... See it!

• Think about your own life and relationships and the small, meaningful things that you can be doing.
• Empower yourself towards positive thinking, positive actions and positive interactions.
• Think and act locally.
• Think a lot about the food on your table, where does it come from and how has it been grown.
• Support local farmers and communities.
• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
• Carpool, take a bus or ride a bike wherever possible.
• Offset your carbon emissions by getting involved in a local project that restores essential ecological systems.
• Plant a garden - grow as much of your own food as possible.  It’s fun, it's healing and has a huge impact in terms of protecting the planet and your family's health.
• Use your voice and consumer dollars and support sustainable practices.

Learn more about...

• Well-being
• Waste minimisation
• Sustainable transport
• Water
• Sustainable business
• Sustainable development
• Sustainable buildings
• Energy efficiency
• Food systems
• Ecosystems
• Forests
• Wetlands
• Consumer information
• Air quality