Climate Millionaire with Annika Chapman

What's your name?
Annika Chapman

Where in the world are you?
Just moved to the UK from Wellington (stories from Wellington below)

What do you do in the world?
I work in policy and public affairs for an NGO. In my spare time, I'm the Wellington Volunteer Coordinator for the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (we have got to stop seeing animals as so disposable).

In one sentence, what is climate change?
The result of short sighted apathy toward the anthropogenic mass extinction of much life on this planet; we are changing Mother Nature's equilibrium.

How does climate change affect your life?
Climate change is an issue I think about every day. Awareness of it has given me an even greater drive toward consuming as sustainably as possible, from buying secondhand where possible, to eating a vegan diet.

What do you feel you can do about it?
Meat and dairy production is the single biggest contributor towards climate change in our wold today. By choosing to eat a vegan (or vegetarian) diet I know that I am 'voting with my wallet', with regard to how much demand there is for more sustainable food choices in cafes and restaurants, and even the wider range of food choices in supermarkets.

Climate Change is an amazing opportunity for us to learn, about the balance of the natural world and our place within it. I try my best to gently engage people on the issues to spread the awareness of sustainability, Climate Change and veganism, and also to learn from others. Learning and sharing is the best tool we have.

Do you feel there is more you could do? If so, what is stopping you from doing those things?
Growing a (veggie) garden at home would help to reduce the transport cost impact of food - I haven't done this as apartment living limits having a garden. Also, doing the food shopping with reusable containers to minimize packaging waste would be a good step. I think I'll give it a go!

What's your favourite Sunday afternoon activity?
Having some kind of outdoor adventure - hiking, beaching, mountain biking. Getting out of the city and into the fresh air.

Extra for experts: Do you remember how you first became active in climate change?
I was 16 years old, and went to a screening of Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' - I was blown away! I'd always known we should recycle and limit pollution, but I hadn't yet discovered the consequence of this mass pollution and loss of natural environment.

Two years later, I saw the ancient glaciers at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, and the certain knowledge that they would not be around for my grandchildren to see, spurred me to action.

Free space: write anything you like, nothing at all, or ask us a question
The biggest mobilizer for change is social dialogue; that's why this blog is so important. How do we get it going all over the world?!