KEY POINTS:
New Zealand lobbyists are linking up with others around the world today to stage protests and educate people ahead of the next United Nations conference on climate change.
The two-week conference begins on Tuesday in Nairobi and is expected to canvass key climate issues - from the recently released Stern Report by a British economist which predicted a global recession, to how nations are doing curbing greenhouse gas emissions as part of their Kyoto Protocol commitments.
The international day of action will include synchronised demonstrations around the world as part of a call on world leaders to take urgent action to ward off catastrophic consequences if emissions are not slashed.
In Auckland, Greenpeace is setting up a radio station - Heatwave FM - and will broadcast interviews from around the world.
DJs Martin "Bomber" Bradley and Steve Abel will host "climate rescue radio" from a secret location beginning today and finishing on Tuesday. Aucklanders can tune in on the internet, heatwavefm.net.
A "reclaim the streets" carnival will be held at Aotea Square from 1pm.
Wellington is holding its first Climate Change Festival, at the Paramount Theatre in Courtenay Place, which will feature documentaries, information stalls and a climate change science and policy workshop. The workshop, at 12.30pm, will have speakers on topics ranging from global climate change impacts to producing wine with zero emissions and what people can do at home.
The Green Party is organising more than 30 activities around the country, including providing a free bus showing Al Gore's climate change film An Inconvenient Truth. Greens will mark buildings to show the impact of sea-level rise and set up information stalls in many cities.
"Green members will be handing out leaflets about the six new climate change private members' bills that the Greens are putting into the ballot as well as giving people ideas on how they themselves can reduce their individual greenhouse gases," said co-leader Russel Norman.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
A personal guide to fighting global warming.
Lifestyle
* Drive a fuel-efficient, low-emissions car. Ditch the 4WD. Keep car tuned.
* Use public transport or cycle.
* Reduce air travel - holiday at home.
At home
* Improve insulation in the ceiling, walls, under the floor and around doorways and windows.
* Building an energy-efficient home (including insulation and double glazing) adds $3000 to $5000 to the cost, but this is recouped through savings in power bills and added capital value.
* Choose electricity companies which use renewable sources such as wind.
* Replace old fridges and washing machines with low-energy ones.
* Consider solar heating.
* Switch off appliances at the mains, (items on standby account for 5
per cent of your power bill).
* Turn lights off as you leave a room.
* Install energy-efficient lightbulbs and water-saving showerheads.
* Compost organic material.
* Recycle, reduce waste, reject plastics.
In the workplace
* Proposed changes for commercial buildings could save 104 gigawatt-hours a decade, equivalent to savings of 20.1 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
* Switch off lights and computer monitors at the end of the day.
* Recycling programmes.
* Energy-efficient lighting.
* Car pooling.
* Work from home, teleconferencing.
What the Government is doing
* Considering tradeable emissions permits to limit carbon emissions by industry.
* Proposed fuel economy standards and age limits on imported vehicles.
* Use of biofuels.
* Packaging Accord with industry to reduce waste.
* Proposed building law changes include increasing insulation requirements in all new homes, eg: using double glazing; creating tougher design standards for hot-water systems, air-conditioning and heating systems; having incentives for forest planting on erosion-prone land and planning for solar-water heating incentives.
Sources: Dept of Building and Housing, Greenpeace, Ministry for the Environment.
