There was a feast of celebrations for the environment throughout the first week of June as New Zealand and Wellington City hosted the 2008 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) World Environment Day on 5 June.
Stories about many of these events can be found at the New Zealand World Environment Day website. Details of how some CCP-NZ councils celebrated the day are below:
Wellington - World Environment Day host city
As host city, Wellington City Council provided its residents with a smorgasbord of free festivities. These ranged from a huge Arbor Day planting, an ECO Party, an ‘ECO Homes’ tour and lots of talk fests for the argumentative folk!
An estimated 350 people attended the Arbor Day event, including 260 schoolchildren who helped Mayor Kerry Prendergast plant 5000 native plants above a park in Vogeltown.
Around 1200 people attended the ECO Party, featuring local entertainment and a range of information stalls from environmental groups, at the Town Hall. CCP-NZ nominated councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, the Council's Climate Change portfolio leader, said, "It was a fantastic night with people spending time at the stalls, learning about climate change and sustainability and also enjoying the bands."
The ECO Open Homes on Saturday generated an enormous amount of public interest. Well over 400 people bussed and carpooled their way around the city to view architecturally designed solar homes, energy efficiency retro-fitted homes and permaculture gardens.
Finally, environment and climate change talk-fests during the week were organised by Victoria University and Wellington City Council. Representatives from UNEP, the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change, and the President of Kiribati were some of the guests that joined the Prime Minister, Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for the Environment at various gatherings around the city.
The consistent message from all speakers was that the public will play a key role in the challenge of “Kicking the carbon habit”.
Also in Wellington, the Ministry for the Environment organised an Art for the Environment Exhibition with works from renowned international artists; a photographic exhibition with selected works from the UNEP International Photographic Competition on the Environment; an international children's painting competition; and the annual MfE Green Ribbon Awards and a Junk to Green Funk Art Auction.
Greater Wellington support for ‘Greentown’
“Kick the Habit and move towards a low carbon economy” was the theme for Greytown to become a “Greentown” during the month of June. With the help of Greater Wellington Regional Council there were many activities to help the people of Greytown live more sustainable lifestyles.
They ranged from help to trim energy use and promote greater energy efficiency; reduce household emissions from domestic fires; offset carbon emissions and promote biodiversity through native tree planting; decrease plastic bags and packaging use; encourage greater use of public transport; conserve water; walk, cycle and participate in other recreational activities, and buy environmentally-friendly and locally made products.
