We live in a highly uncertain world – the pandemic, and its economic legacy of supply chain disruption and inflation. And now, Putin’s war in Europe.
These are the current challenges we face but the cumulative effects from climate change threaten to surpass them all, and much sooner than we might think.
After the catalogue of unbelievable fires, droughts and flooding across the globe in 2021, last week’s IPCC report provides an ever more dire scientific warning.
As if to stress the urgency, 2022 has started with yet more extreme weather, including the flooding in eastern Australia. They remind us that the effects of climate change are here, now. They’ll only get worse, much worse.
That’s why we must take action now, this year, 2022. Not next, or the year after – we’ve been putting this off for decades.
For Aucklanders, acting now means supporting the council’s proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate, as part of the annual plan consultation.
The targeted rate has a very reasonable price tag – just $1.12 per week for the average household. That’s the whole household, not each person. For the average business, it will be $1.83 per week.
For that, the council will be able to invest in a range of projects to make Auckland’s transport system cleaner and more efficient. This makes all our lives better.It will also support the planting of trees, thousands of them, many in communities which desperately need them. Backing the targeted rate also means extra funding from central government.
Submitting is simple.
One question, one multiple choice. Support. You can add comments.
Submissions close on 28 March.
The most important comment to make is that you want the rate implemented this year, not delayed until 2023. The can can’t be kicked any further down the road!
Please, submit here, now!
The plan isn’t perfect, but we can’t afford to let the search for perfection be the enemy of good.
You might want to add comments to say the plan should go further and faster to meet our climate goals. The most important, though, is to show support before submissions close on 28 March – this is a numbers game.
Thank you very much for your time,
Rachel and the SBN team