Young people throughout Aotearoa have made it clear that urgent action is needed towards an equitable, resilient and zero carbon future, with the latest findings from the Climate Change Commission echoing these concerns. Aotearoa will miss its emissions reduction targets if it doesn't engage in strong and decisive action now. 

“We conceptualised the Zero Carbon Act to establish a Climate Change Commission to provide independent, expert analysis of what is needed to get us to a zero carbon future. Now we must follow a path to action as outlined by the commission” says Generation Zero spokesperson Grace Cowley. The report signals that a just, zero carbon future is possible but only if we urgently adopt the budget’s recommendations.

Generation Zero partnered with ACE New Zealand* to ask the government to provide addition support to local governments in such an uncertain time. Take a look at the letter we've put together here.

Youth-led climate campaigners School Strike 4 Climate and Generation Zero launched their #unitebehindclimate campaign website today, coinciding with New Zealand’s first digital School Strike 4 Climate event.

The website (www.unitebehindclimate.com) is a platform for young people to call for placing climate justice at the centre of future Government spending as the country recovers from COVID-19. As youth-led organisations, both groups are also calling for intergenerational justice - meaning a resilient and secure future for all generations.

To the Parliament of Aotearoa New Zealand,

Please centre climate justice when making decisions on the COVID-19 recovery. 

Repairing the damage done by COVID-19 to both our economy and society will be a huge task. It is critical that we put climate justice at the centre of our response, as there can be no social justice without climate justice. We would do future generations a disservice if we forgot the need to act on climate change while recovering from COVID-19.

Generation Zero asks that when you are making decisions on the recovery you:

1. Honour and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and The Zero Carbon Act.
2. Do not override the Resource Management Act and ensure due process.
3. Lay the foundations of a zero-emissions Aotearoa by prioritising low-carbon transport infrastructure.
4. Ensure that new government housing provides a healthy environment for our vulnerable citizens.

Youth-led climate campaigners Generation Zero welcome the government’s efforts, particularly the financial assistance package to aid those affected by COVID-19. New Zealanders, especially those from low socio-economic backgrounds and people with disabilities, are deeply affected by COVID-19. The campaigners recognise that the financial assistance package announced today by the Prime Minister will help ease the burden during times of uncertainty and stress. Alongside this though, investments to address the COVID-19 crisis also present a massive opportunity to make headway on the climate crisis.