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Key points raised at the Talk Environment Roadshow 2007 – household sustainability
Barriers to becoming more sustainable at home were the focus of discussions at the household sustainability tables. The public discussed solutions to these barriers and how the Ministry could provide support. In response to your feedback we have listed relevant links were you can find more information at the bottom of this page.
Increase information and awareness
- Balanced and credible information on the environmental effects of our actions, and on how to live more sustainably, needs to be more accessible.
- Information should be available on more than just the internet. A personalised approach to education can be more effective in assisting people make changes. Gisborne attendees recommended having environmental champions to act as leaders within their communities.
- Community hubs such as the local council, marae, church, or environment centre could act as a local point of reference for sustainability information and action.
Consider influences
- People need to be reassured that acting sustainably is cost-effective and beneficial, and that every action counts.
- Sustainable behaviours need to be mainstream behaviours. Education and information on small steps to becoming more sustainable was suggested by Roadshow attendees as a way forward. Attendees also suggested industry, particularly tradespeople, should be informed about sustainable business practices.
- Sustainability should be part of the school curriculum; the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Education need to work together on this.
- The government needs to show leadership through its own actions and by funding appropriate community programmes.
- The need to build (or rebuild) stronger, closer communities if we are to be sustainable was raised in many discussions.
Promote incentives
- Government should be supporting and promoting people making sustainable decisions. Low-cost and no-cost actions should be promoted. Some options such as solar panels and double glazing are too expensive for some communities.
- There are barriers that prevent people from acting more sustainably (e.g. costs, lack of support), which need to be addressed.
- Some attendees felt the Government needed to do more to improve public transport and promote alternative types of transport, in particular cycling.
- Centameters, electricity use monitors, should be widely accessible or available to hire from your local library.
