What will you change for climate change?
Little things can make a big difference. And even the smallest change to your usual routine can help reduce emissions and create a cleaner, more sustainable Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai - for all of us. So see what you can do to combat climate change. Chur the Hutt!
Moving around
Take public transport instead of driving
Taking the train reduces carbon emissions on the road. Plus you can do your own thing when someone else is driving - like catch up on your shows.
- Find journey options on Metlink
- Explore your community with X Minute City
Fun fact: Every one of the legends that you see in these images is a super-cool Hutt local. A huge chur to them!
Moving around
Ride a bike or walk, where possible
Why use costly fuel when you can get there under your own steam? It’s good exercise too, to help you keep fitter and stay active.
- Map of cycle paths in Lower Hutt
- NZTA e-bike employer support scheme
- NZTA cycling resources
- Visit lovetoride.net.nz for future initiatives and resources
- Workride.co.nz bike scheme
- Explore your community with X Minute City
Fun fact: Try to reduce and reuse the waste in your life, especially plastic. Think of recycling as the LAST thing you do. See where your recycling goes.
Eating
Eat plant-based one night a week
Eating protein from fresh fruit, veges and pulses is much easier on the environment than a meat-based diet. And the change could do you good!
- Meal ideas to debunk the high-cost perception of plant-based eating
- Check out this story on Māori vegans doing 'something good for the planet'
- Plant-based, vegetarian and vegan diets
- Check out the science that backs this up, plus some awesome tips, from Take The Jump
- Want to find plant-based kai near you? Check out Happy Cow, an app and website that lists vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants
Fun fact: Eating plant-based isn’t necessarily about eating healthily all the time – you can still be plenty decadent with vegan kai...
Shopping
Buy second-hand when you can
Recycling helps to reduce landfill and other costly forms of disposal. Buying pre-loved is always easier on your pocket too.
- Directory of Lower Hutt based op-shops and vintage stores
- Find out what the science says for both clothes and devices via Take The Jump
- Visit the Earthlink recycling shop
- Rehome unwanted items at Free For All
Fun fact: As you’ll see from this video, Earthlink is a place where you can drop off as well as pick up...
Energy Efficiency
Take shorter showers
No matter how you heat your water, the longer you’re under the water the more it costs. And shorter showers can keep you just as clean.
- For hot water saving, power saving, and heating tips
- The team at Hunter Water have put together playlists of songs that will help you have shorter showers. You know you wanna finish your shower as you finish singing OutKast’s ‘Hey Ya!’ (03:55!)...
Fun fact: This RNZ article shows how much money long showers cost – one Lower Hutt man liked showers that were 1.5 hours long!
Energy Efficiency
Buy electric
Electricity is cheaper to run than other forms of power, and comes from renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro – which makes us all better off.
- Discover cost-savings and emissions reductions tips for electrifying your home
- Head over to Gen Less and find out everything you need to know about going electric
- Find out how we’re electrifying our homes and businesses throughout Te Ara Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt
This fantastic campaign was paid for by the Central government’s Better Off Funding scheme - find out how this mahi will help avoid future costs via the FAQs below!
- A grassroots movement created by normal people, Take the Jump is for anyone who worries about the state of nature. If you’re looking for constructive, positive, and impactful steps to take in your own life, this is for you.
- Discover what we’re doing about climate change, how we’re lowering our own emissions, what the Regional Emissions Reduction Plan 2024-2030 is, and more here.
- Check out these wonderful tips from our friends at Wellington City Council.
- The Mana Kai Initiative has brought together sector experts to build a national food network that creates a productive, inclusive, sustainable food system.
- Check out these amazing local places and initiatives.
Why are we running the Chur The Hutt campaign?
This campaign is all about encouraging climate action, because the more we do now, the less we'll have to spend later. For example, an increase in sea level rise (estimated at about 1m by the end of the century) will have a range of effects on infrastructure and the community, and all of them involve huge extra costs. Thankfully, this campaign has been funded via the Government’s Better Off Funding scheme.
What’s more, some of the tips included here (like shorter showers) can save YOU money personally.
Do you want people to spend more money?
Not at all! This mahi is all about doing what you can, when you can. While we're working hard to reduce emissions, we know that many people are struggling right now, both financially and in other ways. This campaign is all about helping you to live more sustainably in ways that suit you and your whānau.
Why are you asking Lower Hutt to make changes, as opposed to governments, corporations, or much bigger countries?
Aotearoa may be a small country, but our per-person emissions are incredibly high – in fact, we have the 4th highest emissions per capita in the OECD. Plus, we create more solid waste per person than any other OECD country, and only 35% of our waste is recycled and reused – one of the lowest rates in the world. Our country has a lot of work to do to live up to our ‘clean, green’ image, especially if we want to protect our beautiful te taiao.
While governments and companies have a big role to play in the climate crisis, everyone needs to pitch in and play their part! Environmental mahi needs to be both large and small scale, which is why we want to make it easier for our residents to put less pressure on te taiao (the environment).
What’s Council doing about the climate crisis?
We’re working hard to make Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai a more environmentally friendly city, and you can read all about it here. Examples include our Low Carbon Acceleration fund, accommodating the growing number of electric vehicles, helping less stuff go to landfill, and decarbonising services delivered by private contractors.