Coal
Coal is the dirtiest source of carbon around. But new mines are still going ahead. They will lock-in high greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come, and need to be stopped now. It’s time to stop new coal mines.
Agriculture
You have to pay your carbon costs, so why doesn’t New Zealand’s largest single source of greenhouse gasses? The agriculture industry has used every trick in the book to get out of doing their fair share. It’s time to put them in the ETS.
Forests
Our ancient forests are one of our most important land based carbon sinks. But they're being destroyed by uncontrolled wild deer, possums, goats, and pigs. Our ancient forests are dying from neglect. It’s time for a major pest control programme to protect our native forests.
Natural carbon
Some of our most under-valued places store more carbon than anywhere else. We need to treasure our wetlands, the sea floor, mangroves forests, and peat-lands. It’s time to end bottom trawling, stop draining wetlands, and concreting our coasts. It’s time to protect natural carbon.
Incentives
Instead of paying to clean up after polluters, we should reward people who do the right thing. It’s time to provide financial support for people who plant new native forests and protect old ones.
Solutions to our climate crisis
Decade after decade, New Zealand governments have failed to act. While they've wasted time, we've come up with the solutions. They are out of excuses. It's time to get on with it.
What you can do in five minutes
- Tell the Prime Minister to stop new coal mines. There are still consents being granted for brand new and expanded coal mining in Aotearoa. That's not our future. Send a quick email to the Prime Minister telling her to stop new coal mines. Enough is enough.
Learn about the solutions
Here's Forest & Bird's solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. Big polluters and the government are out of excuses. It's time for them to get on with it.
- A Nature-first climate response Forest & Bird has provided a booklet on how nature-based emissions reductions could work for Aotearoa. It makes recommendations for forests, wetlands, blue carbon, agriculture, and renewable energy.
- Native habitat carbon in crisis. In April 2021, Forest & Bird published a ground-breaking report estimating the impacts of browsing pests like deer, goats, possums, and pigs, on our native forests' stored carbon. The report shows our native forests in deep trouble, and the urgent need for increased pest control.
- Recovery for people and planet. In April 2020, supporters like you helped to push Forest & Bird's call for a Covid-19 recovery that cares for people and the planet. We secured a $1.2 billion Jobs for Nature fund, which is employing people in conservation around Aotearoa - but there is more to do.