On 10/10/10, in 150 locations around the country, communities, citizens and organisations got their hands dirty for the ‘350 Global Working Bee’ on Climate Change.  This meant everything from home sustainability retrofits, launching community gardens, tree plantings, hosting bike repair workshops and sustainability skill ups.  In addition to making a difference locally, these events were designed to send a strong signal to our leaders that they have our support in getting us back to a 350 world.

350 refers to 350 parts per million (ppm) concentration that is said to be the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  We are currently at 390 ppm and going up by 2ppm per year.  The purpose of the ‘350 Global Working Bee’ was to progress and celebrate local solutions to climate change, not waiting for others to get to work.

New Zealand’s efforts were part of a truly global working bee, with 7000 events in 188 countries around the world.  The national day in New Zealand was supported by a few central staff, regional partner organisations for promotion and assistance.  But largely it was volunteer citizens, communities and organisations bringing their strengths and gifts together to make the events happen.

Zooming in on three NZ events:

In Auckland, Cycle Action Auckland, Frocks on Bikes, Community Volunteers, Tumeke bike collective and Pro Mechanics took it upon themselves to support people getting back on their bikes, identifying that getting people onto bikes was a contribution they could make together.

“Transport is a key contributor to carbon emissions, one of the key things we can do is to support people to get their bikes road ready” said Pippa Coom, one of the organisers.  Everyday people were able to bring their bikes in out of their garages and get fixed and cleaned up.  From bike fixing teams, to people running workshops and providing food to music, a range of groups came together to make it happen.  Pippa continued “It is important because it is building support from the bottom up and providing a range of ways for people and organisations to contribute.”

In Nelson, as told in the Nelson Mail: Katelyn Loader, 5, Skyla Bruce, 9, and Ashton Bruce, 5, from House 44 karaka Street , joined their neighbours to plant trees in specially chosen locations as part of Sunday's ‘Global Climate Working Bee’ in Stoke, Nelson.

Based at Stoke's House 44 karaka Street, the Karaka St residents spent Sunday sprucing up nearby Orchard Reserve by weeding, planting berries and apple, lemon, orange and feijoa trees donated by Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.

This event was conceived and organised by Stoke local residents, to help clean up their own reserve and plant up useful fruiting trees in an effort to live more sustainably and promote community ownership and care of an area.  House 44 manager Jane Worthington said everyone was proud of the reserve and "getting into this home-grown stuff".

Residents have been noticing an improvement in vandalism in the reserve, "Because the community has been involved, it's not been touched.” She said the residents of the street had talked about getting regular working bees going themselves.

In Christchurch, 70 people of all ages flocked to the coastal dunes for ‘TrancePlant’, a surprising mix of electronica music and native tree planting.  Hungry volunteers were rewarded with a BBQ after planting hundreds of native shrubs and grasses.

The 350 Christchurch organisers and volunteers set up the events with local community groups, pulled in local speakers, screened a film festival, and held ‘Bike Fix Ups’ across Christchurch.  It was a truly community-led event, with tools and education being shared amongst the community for them to develop a more sustainable lifestyle within their own communities, cutting carbon emissions and letting their leaders know that they have community support for strong environmental leadership.

These are just three examples of the 150 actions across the country, and great examples of citizens leading the way, not waiting for others and building on the strengths that lie amongst us.

For more information about the 7000+ global events and photos visit www.350.org, or sign up for New Zealand updates at www.350.org.nz

Nelson Photo Credit: Patrick Hamilton (for Nelson Mail story)

Carl Chenery, Climate Solutions Facilitator at Ecomatters Environment Trust in Auckland.