How to vote with a climate lens

OPINION: We all know that we have nine years to act on climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is the United Nations Organization to assess science related to climate change, concludes that we need to cut our emissions by almost half by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius .

In reality, it is only three full parliamentary terms, one of which will be decided on October 17.

One of the positive aspects of the election being postponed for a month is that anyone who turns 18 in the additional month will be able to vote. Having more young people participating in elections is crucial for climate action, especially since the future of their children and grandchildren is at stake.

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This upcoming election presents a key opportunity to join us in showing our resilience and determination to advocate for decisive action toward the future we want and deserve together. Voting with a weather lens is an important part of this promotion.

What does it really mean to vote with a climate lens?

Voting with a climate lens has spread across all social media as if it were a new TikTok trend. But what does it really mean?

Simply put, you can only vote with a climate lens if you place climate justice at the center of the purpose of your vote in elections. Climate justice is recognizing that those who have done the least to cause climate change are most affected by it.

Therefore, to focus your vote on climate justice is to acknowledge that the climate crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities.

So voting with a climate lens means voting to elect the people who will work to dismantle the systemic oppression of both our marginalized communities and the planet. This involves more than just climate policy.

Read between the lines: see climate impacts in non-climate policies

Climate policy action can be explicit, such as passing the Zero Carbon Law, which was achieved in 2019 and sets emission reduction targets for the government. However, it can also be hidden within other policies, such as those related to our tax system.

Since climate change and environmental protection are interrelated with other issues over which politicians have control, it is important that we read between the lines. Climate considerations are critical in all policies, as we know that offsetting emissions is not going to solve everything.

The following policies may not explicitly describe climate change as the Zero Carbon Law, but they are vital for Aotearoa to reduce its emissions or allow the community to adapt to climate change:

• Economic recovery and tax system. Having more equitable tax rates would allow governments to provide the necessary investments in transportation and housing infrastructure to achieve climate justice.
• Social Welfare. We need policies that ensure that people can live in dignity, such as increased social benefits that can provide greater income security. Income security is important to ensure a just transition, in which workers can move from pollution-intensive industries to “green” and low-emission industries.
• Accommodation. Community-based housing interventions that focus on modernizing insulation and more efficient heating have been shown to improve health outcomes, such as asthma, and provide warmer homes that use less energy. Aotearoa also needs to make significant improvements to our building code to ensure that new homes are built sustainably and are warm and energy efficient.

What is at stake?

Young people are the future of Aotearoa, but they remain underrepresented in politics. If the trend of low youth voter turnout continues, this is to the detriment of all New Zealanders, as we will lose our best chance to choose the future we inherit together. This includes important decisions about the environment, housing, transportation, and all other areas of government action that affect every part of our lives every day.

If we don’t go out and vote this year, we’ll see changes in Aotearoa that don’t reflect us and don’t work for us, or worse yet, more of the status quo.

There are many ways to join the youth in voting together for their future. This is the first election that anyone over the age of 18 can register and vote on the same day and while useful, no ID is required! So that you can host a dinner party, make voting a fun activity that you can do together in your apartment or family, tell them about the voting process, and invite young people to participate in democracy.

With nine years left to make a lasting impact on the way future generations will live, the power is ours today. Will we vote for short-term economic interests? Or will we vote with a climate lens to make sure that all New Zealanders are not robbed of the ecosystem and quality of life we ​​have today?

What’s next after voting? Hold those you put in power to account

Voting with a climate lens is just the first step. To ensure that those elected put Aotearoa on the right track to meet our environmental goals by 2030, we must continue to make our voices heard and hold power to account.

As we have seen in recent election cycles, the government will need to constantly remember that achieving climate justice is an issue for our generation and must be at the forefront of all political decisions they make over the next three years. After all, we only have nine left to make the crucial changes we need by 2030.

So after congratulating you on coming out and using your vote for climate justice, take a breath, settle in for the long haul, and consider how to use your political power next. Your first port of call should be your member of parliament or local councilor.

Whether they have been chosen by you or not, your job is to represent you. Let them know how you feel about government policies and practices through emails, phone calls, and letters – the more direct and personal, the better!

Second, keep up-to-date with current local and national events, and try to organize your friends and whānau to formally introduce themselves on the important policies being considered – every voice is important.

There are many climate justice groups advocating for specific communities and Aotearoa’s broader climate response. They will let you know when and how you can use your voice for climate justice. Even just talking to friends, whānau, and colleagues about climate change really helps to raise awareness and take action.

In this election, Generation Zero and many young people from Aotearoa will put our vows into practice. A climate lens is necessary to achieve our vision of climate justice. Young people are now empowered to make their voices heard and people of all generations are joining them. Now it’s up to the politicians to listen.

Dewy Sacayan, Francy Sulikosky and Bruce Kidd are members of Generation Zero, a youth-led organization working for intergenerational climate justice.