You Choose

Enlarge this image +

youth voices in Copenhagen!


In December 2009, 5 Kiwi Climate Ambassadors traveled to Copenhagen to participate in the Children's Climate Forum. They were there to represent the voices of New Zealand youth.
 
The You Choose Transport survey (below) gave young people the chance to have their voices heard about a very important climate change issue: transport.

The results of the survey are now in. Download PDF version.

You Choose Transport Survey

 
Transport is a major contributor to NZ’s greenhouse gas emissions. If we improve the way we travel, we can reduce these emissions.
 
New Zealand has the highest car ownership rate in the world and one of the lowest driving ages.  We have an expectation that we can get to work, to school or to social activities in our car. But we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
 
What do you think we should do?

Scenario 1: Business as usual

  • We keep on doing what we are currently doing and the way we shop, socialise and work continues to be linked to car travel.
  • We build more roads and systems to handle the increase in the number of cars on the road and car journeys. 
  • We encourage more people to travel to work by alternative modes of transport, in particular, by bus. 
Read more

Scenario 2: Improving current models

  • We continue to build more roads so the number of cars still increases but almost all major motorways now come with new carpool and bus lanes.
  • The government has encourages teenagers and the workforce (e.g. through TV ads) to use the improved inner-city bus service and car pool maps that help people travel to and from work in around half the time.
  • A higher class of bus service with new improved timetables is only found in the some of the busiest cities. Travel from city to city is still mostly by car.  Green house gases slightly decrease. 
Read more
 

Scenario 3: Changing the model

  • Public transport is revamped and is made cheaper, safe and more accessible. Towns and cities are designed to make things more accessible and easier to walk, cycle and skate.
  • Vehicles now run off sustainable bio-fuels, solar or other renewable energy sources. The design of the roads is made to get people from A-B more quickly. 
  • The entire rail network is extended and electrified for fast inner and intercity travel. No more traffic jams!
Read more