Across Aotearoa, our local governments have essential roles to protect and restore eco-systems, as well as lead efforts to reduce climate-harming pollution and adapt to the effects of climate change that are already happening.
WORKING FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
As PSA members, we can be proud of the essential environmental mahi our fellow members are doing in local government. We know our local government workers are committed to protecting our eco-systems, our biodiversity, and our communities from harm. Now we have a chance to elect local leaders who share that commitment.
As union members, we understand that environmental protection and social justice are intertwined.
ENSURING A JUST TRANSITION
It was union members who started the demand for a Just Transition. That means taking action on climate change and protecting the environment in ways that also create better jobs and equity. We want decent work and a good life for everyone in our communities, so we need to make sure our jobs don’t harm us or the families we are trying to provide for.
At the very least, we have to make sure our industries don’t poison the water we drink and the air we breathe, or harm our climate.
ECO ACTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
Changes need to happen at every level for a Just Transition, including in our cities and in our regions, so we need local government leaders who share our values. There’s a lot our local governments can do that helps people and planet.
Accessible and affordable public transport, with good support for walking and cycling, can reduce transport emissions and give us all better options. Sustainable waste policies can reduce emissions and toxic chemicals leaching from landfills, while creating good jobs that contribute to a circular economy.
Councils can make sure affordable and good quality housing is available close to where people work, with support for insulation and other upgrades that make our homes warm, cosy and energy efficient. Well-resourced local services, alongside marae and other community hubs, can improve our community life and make us more resilient during extreme weather and other challenging times.
KEEPING TE TAIAO IN THE RIGHT HANDS
To achieve all this and more, we need local governments that are well connected to our diverse communities and actively working with mana whenua. That’s why it’s important that all of us who care about social justice and the environment, vote to keep Māori Wards and vote for leaders with a track record of standing up for Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
At a time when some MPs seem determined to fight a war on nature and people, we have a chance to choose a different kind of leadership for our local governments. We need people in local government who will fight for us and defend our common home.
