Gareth Hughes's blog

This is my last day working at Greenpeace so I thought I’d write up a few thoughts on Sign On. Apologies in advance, this blog is really long, but hey this is a pretty BIG campaign.

Project Survival Media have launched a cool media initiative in the run up to Copenhagen. They are calling for young and aspiring journalists to take action and report on the most compelling climate stories from around the world.

We've hit the 100,000 plus figure and you can look above to see how high it is now (and growing). It's around three months ago since we launched the Sign On campaign at Lucy Lawless' place, so 100,000 in three months isn't too bad.

A few hours ago, John Key announced the Government’s emission reduction target for Copenhagen. In a nutshell it ain't good. And with all due respect to the Government, we are accepting it as no more than an opening gambit.

On Friday night the Sign On campaign hit Auckland Town. Armed with funny ‘what if the hippies are right?’ beer coasters, Sign On forms and a little Dutch courage we visited bars across Auckland talking to people about why we need John Key to do the right thing on climate change.
 

Last night, the final public climate change 2020 target consultation wrapped up in Nelson. It was a lively crowd with 180 odd people packing the Rutheford Hotel. The mood was upbeat, and like all the consultations I’ve attended, the call was loud and clear for 40%.

Went down to Hamilton tonight for the latest instalment of Nick Smith’s climate targets roadshow – the public’s chance to have its say on what NZ’s 2020 target should be.  But I’m feeling more and more this is simply a PR exercise than a genuine consultation.

So Tonight, the Consultation Roadshow rolled into Dunedin. Famous for its Scottish heritage Dunedin was a fitting venue to mention Scotland’s recent ambitious target of 42% by 2020, adopted in its Parliament.

Christchurch had its consultation this evening and nearly 200 Cantabrians came out to have their say to Climate Change Minister Nick Smith and NZ Climate Ambassador Adrian Macey. There were 40 by 2020 stickers and signs galore and nearly every comment made from the floor was supporting a 40% target and from very interesting angles too.

The Government has announced a round of public consultations starting next week, on what NZ’s 2020 emissions reductions target should be. And we need you to be there.

In December governments will converge at Copenhagen aiming to reach a new climate agreement and urgent and ambitious reductions are being encouraged by climate scientists.