Environmental action...

I struggled climbing Mt Ngauruhoe. The very loose scree meant that one step forward was matched by two back or at least that was the feeling. I pushed on, against the odds, eventually standing on the summit, enjoying the accomplishment, the outstanding 360-degree view and the look into the crater below.

This climb closely mirrors our struggle to be an environmentally sustainable community and nation. We're making progress, but the odds are stacked against us ever winning. I recently attended the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's Forum in Wellington with leaders from around the country and overseas.

What I heard at times shook my views of New Zealand. Many from overseas, and more from within, challenged the image of us as a clean green nation. At best some describe our progress as superficial. As someone who is proud of our progress I find this is a hard call. We are seen as having excellent policies, legislation, strategies but falling behind when it comes to implementation. Initially we made real progress but we seem to have reached a plateau or are even going backwards.

Palmerston North was mentioned several times at the Forum for its lead in sustainable wind energy, our efforts to clean up the Manawatu River, the Green Bike Scheme that has recycled 5300 bikes, our capturing of methane gas from the landfill, our free buses to Massey and more.

However, a question to ponder is "What's not changed?"

In our city we could recycle over 60% more out of our waste stream. We, like the whole country, have vastly more vehicles on our roads than a decade ago, consume increasing amounts of electricity (more than we generate in our region), and continue to embrace consumerism that is self-perpetuating. These practices go to the heart of how we are as a society and way beyond climate change. This is why it is currently one step forward and three back.

Conclusion: We have a long distance to go to correct the legacy of the past, to translate the values many of us hold into pragmatic action.

One challenge of particular interest to me is the role of business. At the Forum I asked a person from Statistics NZ: "If we went out onto the street and looked at the offices around, what percentage would you guess would be operating to excellent environmental practices?" The answer: "Maybe less than one percent".

Research presented showed that businesses have a real attitude problem. Environmental practices are in the too hard basket. They are low priority unless they improve the bottom line, attract more customers or enhance lifestyle (health reasons). We have over 100,000 small businesses in New Zealand, of which over 8,000 are in our region. Small businesses employ the majority of New Zealanders and it seems most are exceeding their environmental footprint. Mid and large businesses, tertiary institutions, local authorities and some Government Departments are not necessarily any better at managing their own environments in a sustainable manner.

The Forum affirmed that progress would only be made through leadership, leadership at all levels. So let's each show courageous leadership in small ways in areas that we can influence: Greening our homes, places of work, clubs, churches and schools.

There is a massive mountain to climb that I believe we can conquer. Image one day being able to say of our mountain of environmental worst practice what Sir Ed Hillary said as he stood on top of Mt Everest: "We knocked the bugger off".