Wednesday March 6, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mt Albert Community Comes Together to Write Open Letter to their MP
Mt Albert resident Marianne van der Haas is calling for Mt Albert MP Jacinda Ardern to speed up the process of passing a
Zero Carbon Bill in Parliament in an open letter signed by over 150 local residents.
Beginning in December 2018, Marianne has sought signatories to her open letter by travelling to farmers’ markets in Mt
Albert, Point Chevalier and Grey Lynn. Mt-Albert-based Generation Zero volunteer Maulik Thakkar has supported Marianne’s
efforts by spreading awareness about the Zero Carbon Bill and its potential impacts for Mt Albert’s residents.
“Residents in my area are concerned about climate change and how we’re all going to be able to cope. I’m surprised that
our local MP hasn’t yet been more vocal about how we can make a difference in her home electorate,” said Marianne, who
works as an occupational therapist and is a passionate advocate for the environment.
“I’d like to see all of government, whether in Wellington or in Auckland, take a more proactive stance in laying down
guidelines for all of us to follow - particularly given the alarming news about the melting of Antarctica that we’ve
seen in the last week.”
“I am keen for our local MP to see how passionate people in her own local community are about this issue, which’ll
inevitably affect our children and their children’s children.”
“I absolutely agree that climate action is this generation’s nuclear-free moment, and I look forward to concrete goals
in the upcoming Zero Carbon Bill, with a clear roadmap for local and regional governments to get New Zealand’s emission
levels to net zero by 2050.”
The open letter is handwritten by Marianne based on input from Generation Zero’s policy team. Together with the support
of a broad range of local residents of all ages, Marianne has put together all signatures in an appendix to the letter.
The letter was hand-delivered by Marianne to the Mt Albert electorate office today.
The need for a Zero Carbon Act is backed by Forest & Bird, Oxfam New Zealand, WWF-New Zealand, ActionStation and others. The Young Nats, Young Labour, the Young Greens, and
Young New Zealand First have all endorsed the passing of a Zero Carbon Act.
ENDS
About the Zero Carbon Act
Read the summary paper here.
For more information see www.zerocarbonact.nz
What is the Zero Carbon Act?
The Zero Carbon Act is a proposed law based on the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. It will require governments to reduce
New Zealand’s emissions year-on-year and plan towards a long-term zero carbon target.
About Generation Zero
Generation Zero is a nationwide, volunteer, youth-led organisation formed in 2011 to progress New Zealand toward a zero
carbon future. www.generationzero.org