FAR NORTH CITIZENS CLIMATE

DECLARATION1

02 November 2015

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED OF THE FAR NORTH OF THE NORTH ISLAND OF

AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND, DO DECLARE THAT:
In relation to Climate Crisis
1. We recognize the profoundly alarming warnings of the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)2 that:
a. Due to accumulated and continuing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (including
significant amounts from fossil fuel production and consumption), a projected rise in average
global temperature3 of 2o Celsius is now a critical threat to Earths biodiversity including
humanitys survival;4 and
b. Additional emerging issues now risk a global average temperature rise of between 4 and 6 o
Celsius,5 meaning the difference between a newly unpleasant world and an uninhabitable
one;6
2. We are deeply disturbed at reports that we are now in our 6 th Mass Extinction of all biodiversity
on Planet Earth,7 due to the combined crises associated with such phenomena as climate change,
radiation fallout,8 the consumeristic-driven and corrupt nature of neoliberal economic systems;
and the survival demands of an ever-increasing human population;
3. We observe with grave concern the already documented local effects of climate crisis as
evidenced by:
a. Increased flooding9;
b. Increasingly powerful storm events, coastal erosion and sea level rise 10;
c. Record-breaking droughts leading to increased water security risk 11:and that further predicted effects of climate crisis for our local communities include:
d. Fewer frost days in winter and more record-breaking hot days in summer;
e. Increased ocean temperatures ultimately leading to loss of marine life;
f.

Increased incidences of forest fires; and

g. Increased risks to food production, therefore reducing our food security;

4. We acknowledge local iwi Mori opposition and concerns voiced about deep sea oil drilling; and
5. We agree, therefore, that to mitigate unprecedented human suffering and biodiversity extinction,
the release of carbon into our atmosphere (especially fossil based GHGs) must be radically
curtailed;
In relation to Government and Business & Industry
6. We note the absolute incapability of our Government to deal effectively with the oil spill
associated with the relatively minor Rena incident, with no evidence that our Government
therefore has the necessary capacity to effectively deal with a major spill incident;
7. We are sensitive to the many large corporations, especially fossil fuel companies, who act in a
pathological manner against the interests of the environment and society in general, in particular
the ease with which they externalise (seemingly with impunity) the risks and costs of production
onto local affected communities and countries; and
8. We are mistrustful of international agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership which will
only serve to increase corporate and foreign interests influence over domestic law, regulations
and policies thereby making it exponentially more difficult for We, The People, to protect what
we value against Life-destroying agendas;
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In relation to Human Rights and Obligations

9. We recall, as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, our inalienable human
rights to life, liberty, security of person and other economic, social and cultural rights; 12
10. We are passionately committed to fulfilling, to the best of our ability, our human responsibility to
protect Mother Earth, her life-supporting systems, and all life which dwells upon her; and
11. We firmly believe that urgent transformative change must be led and demanded by the conscious,
collaborative energies and actions of tangata whenua, citizens, non-governmental organisations,
Faith-based groups,13 socially-minded business leaders and others in society (or, for lack of a
better word, People Power).
WE THEREFORE CALL UPON GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND TO:
12. Urgently design and implement, in close good faith consultation with We, The People, a
comprehensive, meaningful, action-oriented climate crisis mitigation and adaptation strategy
which transcends Parliamentary politics and election cycles. Such a strategy must include:
a. A focused and aggressive transition from a carbon fuel-based society to renewable energy
technology, including the cessation of petroleum exploration at the earliest possible
opportunity;
b. The constitutional, legal, regulatory, policy and enforcement components required to actively
protect and give effect to all human rights, including Indigenous Peoples human rights 14; and
c. Reform of neo-liberal economic operating systems to ensure alignment with true wellbeing
values of, and an equitable distribution of wealth in, society;
13. Otherwise exercise its legislative, executive and judicial powers in a manner which is transparent,
accountable, equitable, inclusive, responsive, effective and in the highest interests of Aotearoas
citizens;15 and
WE FURTHER CALL UPON CIVIL SOCIETY INCLUDING ALL CORPORATE
ENTITIES, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO:
14. Urgently support and/or join with like-minded citizens, groups and organisations (whether
governmental or non-governmental; public or private sector; local, regional, national, Pacificregional or global) in realizing the values and aspirations as expressed in this Citizens Climate
Declaration; and
15. Actively comply with your obligations (whether as citizens, corporate entities 16 or actors with
professional responsibilities in society) to respect human rights and the natural world.

18 November 2015

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The IPCC is the global body of scientists that produces regular reports on the state of climate science, and is
widely considered to be the international consensus authority on the subject. See http://www.ipcc.ch/.
3
Baseline temperature is pre-industrial levels, i.e. before we started powering our economies with coal.
(Naomi Klein, "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate" see book excerpts at
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2014/9/17/thursday_naomi_klein_on_her_new_book ).
4
Taken from the IPCCs Synthesis Report Headline statements from the Summary for Policymakers:
http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ar5/ar5_syr_headlines_en.pdf. The full Synthesis report is
available here: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_LONGERREPORT_Corr2.pdf.
Related presentation and video resources are available here: http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/.
5
Such as sequestered methane being released from vast tracts of melting Artic sea ice: For a more detailed
report, see Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn, Economic and Climate Justice Paper (draft), at
https://www.scribd.com/doc/266568707/ICF-Economic-Climate-Justice-Paper-draft-3feb2015.
6
New York Times, Optimism Faces Grave Realities at Climate Talks (30 November 2014):
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/world/climate-talks.html?_r=0.
7
See The Sixth Great Extinction Is Underwayand Were to Blame (Time Magazine, 25 July 2014) at
http://time.com/3035872/sixth-great-extinction/ ; Stanford biologist warns of early stages of Earth's 6th mass
extinction event (Stanford News, 24 July 2014) at
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/july/sixth-mass-extinction-072414.html.
8
This refers to the Fukushima incident. See for example, interview with theoretical physicist Dr Michio Kaku
at https://www.google.co.nz/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv
%3DvXDEEq_W2vo&ei=CnQ4VIDDKpTY8gX1v4HIDQ&usg=AFQjCNEwXUCDypgEyooPpBjzXg5S7LOFSg&sig2=
zC3sMA0toz5laT9F1r8d_A&bvm=bv.77161500,d.dGc.
9
Kaeo was hit by two 100-year floods just five months apart, and new data from New Zealands National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research showed rainfall in a 100-year flood was likely to be 15 per cent
higher than previously forecast: see New Zealand Herald, Maps show up flood-prone locations (5
November 2013), at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?
c_id=1503450&objectid=11151631.
10
Increasingly powerful storm surges have led to unprecedented coastal erosion in Ahipara: see around 20:50
minutes into the documentary He Ao Wera (2009), at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxwh_h7V4CE.
11
In 2010, Kaitaia was within two weeks of running out of water, and Auckland had a record dry February:
See Kaitaia water cuts become compulsory; Auckland affected by drought too (3 March 2010), at
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/kaitaia-water-cuts-become-compulsory-auckland-affected-droughttoo.
12
See the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/.
13
See for example Pope Francis Encyclical 2015:
http://w2.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclicalaudato-si_en.pdf.
14
See the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007, downloadable from
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf.
15
See What is Good Governance? at http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/good-governance.pdf.
16
For example, see the UN Guidelines on Business and Human Rights, at
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf.
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