Green Goals with Josh Cole Green Party

Nature is full of precious taonga that nurtures and sustains all life on our planet including us humans. It silently provides us with clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil, allowing us to thrive.

It is a source of inspiration, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living beings. By valuing nature, we preserve our own existence and ensure a brighter future for my kids, your kids and their kids.

The laws and regulations around how we get money and pay for things, our communities and employment systems in New Zealand create the greatest barrier for eliminating poverty due to a few things.

Firstly, the fact that mega rich companies and corporations have been able to get away with far too much in this country and keep more money for them with lax rules about how to lift us all up as well as themselves. It has led to more and more income disparity, which has seen increased poverty. Secondly, for about 40 years, the amount of work we do and the things we make and do in our jobs has increased at a far higher rate compared to the increase in our pay, trapping more of us in poverty, while the rich get richer from the work that we do.

Additionally, house prices and a competitive rental market have contributed to homelessness and housing insecurity, further deepening poverty levels. Lastly, the tax system that allows the mega rich to pay half the rate of tax the rest of us do, leaving us with limited resources to escape poverty.

These combined factors highlight how the current economic system we are all a part of, hinders poverty reduction efforts in New Zealand.

Eliminating poverty is not only a moral imperative for a just society but also crucial for fostering healthy nature. Poverty often leads to unsustainable practices as individuals struggle to meet their basic needs, resulting in increased resource consumption, deforestation, and pollution.

By lifting people out of poverty, we can create a more sustainable future. When individuals have access to education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure, they can make better choices that promote environmental conservation because we all prefer a thriving nature.

Moreover, poverty reduction is linked to greater empowerment and participation in decision-making processes, enabling communities to advocate for eco-friendly policies and sustainable practices.

The Green Party's Income Guarantee and a Wealth Tax to pay for it, presents the solution and exciting vision for tackling pressing environmental challenges.

If the mega rich corporations aren't going to pay us more for the more work we do, then we will!

After eliminating poverty which is what the Income Guarantee will do, the party's emphasis on renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal power to help combat climate change, the commitment to transitioning towards a circular economy, where resources are reused, recycled, and waste is minimised, will become much easier to achieve.

It is because people will no longer be in survival mode, focusing on how they are going to feed the whanau tonight. We will be able to expand our horizons and look after the rest of our world, too.

Sustainable transportation systems, such as public transport, fuel efficient cars and bikes, will become more affordable for people and councils much quicker once poverty is eliminated.

People will then be free to think about preserving nature through the protection of critical habitats and healthy and organic food will become more affordable and therefore farming techniques that are essential for maintaining ecological balance and less carbon emissions, will receive a higher demand. More expensive healthier homes will all of a sudden also become a reality.

The Green Party's emphasis on social justice intertwines with their environmental aspirations.

By prioritising the elimination of poverty, we recognise the interdependence between socioeconomic well-being and environmental health, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

The time is now for strong environmental policies, commitment to social justice, and forward-thinking ideas that make the Income Guarantee, and the Wealth Tax to pay for it, the best solution for those seeking a greener and more equitable society.