Leaders' Climate Change Challenge

The carboNZero programme is proud to assist the political and business leaders, ambassadors and celebrities featured here who have made the commitment to join our Leaders' Climate Change Challenge. As the challenge progresses, we will also list the leaders who have submitted a personal greenhouse gas inventory and emissions reduction plan that meets our requirements.

Name	Position	Commitment date	Footprint (tCO2e)
			06 - 07	07 - 08	08 - 09
Dr Warren Parker	CEO, Landcare Research	31/8/2007	3.3	5.4	8.4
Brendon McCullum	Black Caps Cricketer	31/7/2008		15.0*	12.8**
Daniel Kereopa	Professional Surfer	7/8/2008		2.9*	2.6**
Conrad Smith	NZ Rugby Player	20/8/2008		8.1*	5.0**
Michael Campbell	Professional Golfer	28/8/2008		28.6*	20.4**
Barbara Kendall	Olympian Windsurfer	15/9/2008		11.0*	15.6**
Caroline Evers-Swindell	Olympian Rower	29/9/2008		12.1*	8.0**
Georgina Evers-Swindell	Olympian Rower	29/9/2008		14.7*	8.5**
Jeanette Fitzsimons	Co-Leader, Green Party	24/3/2009		19.6

* Project Litefoot Ambassadors have decided to report their household emissions and career related emissions separately. Footprint shown here is for their household emissions only.

** The reporting period for these footprints is January - December 2009. For an up-to-date 12 months rolling emisisons performance for the Ambassadors, please go to www.projectlitefoot.org

 

Dr Warren Parker

In addition to being consistent in what I say and do in my work and personal life, I'm really interested to understand how I can manage our household footprint. Our children and friends have become interested too and are taking steps to do the same, which just goes to show everyone's efforts to care for the environment in practical ways count!

Brendon McCullum

I’ve become conscious of the waste I create and am working towards reducing that environmental impact. I want to raise awareness and inspire more people to do the same. The carboNZero programme is helping me raise awareness of the direct impacts I have on our planet. To follow Brendon’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Daniel Kereopa

The love I have for the ocean has made me the person I am today. Water is essential to Aotearoa's social, cultural and economic well-being. I want to do my bit to conserve and protect our most precious resources by helping to raise Kiwi's consciousness of water issues. The carboNZero programme is helping me measure and manage the impacts I have on our planet. To follow Daniel’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Conrad Smith

My job as a professional rugby player means that I fly frequently to different parts of the world. With that comes an environmental impact that, unfortunately, I cannot do a lot about. However, I am able to control other aspects of my personal environmental impact. As Kiwis we’ve become increasingly reliant upon road transport in recent years. This is putting serious pressure on our environment and human health. I'm taking up the Leaders' climate change challenge through the carboNZero programme that will help me address this and other environmental impacts. I hope to encourage more New Zealanders to do the same. To follow Conrad’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Michael Campbell

As a Maori, I am a representative of the indigenous people of New Zealand. Maori people have a special and ancient bond with nature and the land. This is why 'mother earth' has a very literal meaning for my people. We see ourselves as custodians of the land, we're here to take care of the land before passing it onto the next generation. The impact I have upon the planet contradicts the philosophy of my people. I must address that and inspire others to do the same. To follow Michael’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

Barbara Kendall

My life has been spent on the ocean. I worry about the impact climate change may have on the sea and the life within it. I'm making changes to help ensure my children and grandchildren can experience the same things I have. I am taking on Landcare Research's Leaders' climate change challenge to measure and reduce the impacts on the planet. To follow Barbara’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Caroline Evers-Swindell

Energy use in New Zealand is increasing rapidly to keep pace with our economic growth and changes in lifestyles. With rowing, Georgina and I focus on maximising output from stored energy, and we've spent our career striving to perfect this. We want to help ensure kiwis maximise their energy efficiency so that we can grow as a nation without negatively impacting our environment. Through the carboNZero programme I am measuring and monitoring my consumptions and emissions to identify area where I can be more efficient. To follow Caroline’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Georgina Evers-Swindell

Caroline and I spent the majority of our lives on rivers and lakes. We have been on the purest, the most majestic lakes and also been on dirty smelly ones, with rubbish floating everywhere. We are very lucky in New Zealand that most of our lakes are beautiful and clean, however we are noticing that more are turning towards the latter. Many international rowers we compete against have an idea in their mind that New Zealand is the cleanest and greenest place. We want to make sure that it is when they come to visit! To follow Georgina ’s progress, go to Project Litefoot > Rapid Revolution.

 

Jeanette Fitzsimons

I have always tried to put my political principles into practice so was really grateful for Landcare's help in calculating my footprint so I can see how to do better. Our home was designed to have very low environmental impact - powered by solar and micro-hydro (previously wind); passive solar designed, with a big wood stove for cooking and backing up the solar water heating. We produce most of our own food organically off the farm. But my big problem is transport - I can't do my job without it. All the flying we MPs do is completely unsustainable and eventually this will have to change. One day we may have a virtual parliament where we meet physically less often and do more work online and by video-conference. In the meantime, I use a small efficient car which goes 100 km on less than 5 litres of petrol with careful driving, and I try to combine trips where I have to fly, to minimise them. Like all the Green MPs I pay personally to offset my air travel through Landcare's carboNZero programme. It's great to see people who are leaders in their sports taking responsibility to be leaders in carbon reduction too.

 

• Request template and guidance
• Household calculator for calculating your emissions.
• More information - Leaders' Climate Change Challenge