Email template for climate action

It’s easy to contact councillors asking them to stick to their climate commitments.

I’ve contacted Labour councillors because they committed to climate action at the election, but haven’t publicly supported keeping our bike lane budget yet. With their support, bike lanes can be protected because Green councillors have committed to keeping them.

I’d start with emailing Labour councillors, and if you want extra brownie points, email others too.

Use this template for Labour councillors (but make it your own of course!)

Tēnā koe,

I was relieved to see you and your Labour colleagues committed to climate action when seeking election. 

During the campaign, Labour candidates told us that “the climate crisis demands urgent action and should be at the centre of all council decisions.” That commitment mattered to me, and it’s why I’m writing to you now.

Living up to that promise means prioritising the switch to low-carbon transport. Transport creates half of Wellington’s carbon pollution, largely from private cars. Cycling cuts travel pollution by around 90% compared to driving. Bikes are a fun, affordable way to get around our city. But people will only make the switch if there is safe infrastructure to ride on.

It’s scary to see that, after $60m+ of cuts last year to the bike lane rollout, Council officers are now suggesting pausing new bike lanes indefinitely. 

Now is not the time for climate austerity. All the proposed cuts combined will shave just $5 a week off the median rates increase. Yet, it will risk Wellington’s encouraging progress on decarbonisation. 

Budget cuts to the climate action team, yet more cuts to cycling infrastructure, and removing the entire safer walking to school budget – that’s not what Wellingtonians voted for.

Can you confirm that you will keep your election commitment to invest in safe cycling infrastructure and take urgent climate action?

Ngā mihi,