Reflecting on the Countdown to Zero – Marta Karlik Neale + Mission Zero

It’s essential to pause and reflect on the actions we take to nurture a healthier planet and pave the way for a brighter future.  We spoke to Tonkin + Taylor's Sustainability + Resilience Consultant - Marta Karlik-Neale about mobilizing change in both her career and community.

With two decades of experience in the sustainability sector, Marta's expertise spans circular economies, carbon accounting, and resilience strategies, both in the public and private sectors.

Marta shared her deep-rooted passion for environmental protection, which stems from her upbringing with her biologist mother. A passion for the environment has evolved into a lifelong mission to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and drive meaningful change across all facets of society.

Driven by the belief that change must happen at a grassroots level, Marta's work at Tonkin + Taylor extends beyond consultancy to actively engage with the local community in Nelson through her work with Mission Zero.

Mission Zero

Serving on the board of Mission Zero, an association of climate-focused businesses, Marta spearheads initiatives to mobilise businesses in Nelson and the Tasman region to reduce their carbon emissions, through the Countdown to Zero project.

‘We began with a workshop in Nelson where we taught local businesses how to measure their carbon footprint, with monthly carbon clinics, where businesses could come in to gain free expert advice. Measurable reduction in businesses could be as easy as giving clients a discount for walking or cycling to appointments.

In March this year, Misson Zero hosted a workshop in the newly NABERS rated T+T Nelson office. This workshop was focused on building an emission reduction plan, where local businesses came together in teams to create a pretend enterprise and brainstorm decarbonisation initiatives of this new organisation.  

These ideas were then pitched to facilitators from Nelson City Council, Ekos, WASP, COGO, Port Nelson and Blue Moth in a dragon’s den style pitch.

Achieving the 1.5-degree target

The core driver for the Countdown to Zero workshops is the science-based targets for a 1.5-degree temperature increase to maintain a viable planet.

‘It can be complicated for businesses to understand what they can do to make an impact to reduce their carbon emissions, which led to the warming of our planet.’ Says Marta.

‘For warming of only 1.5 degrees to be achieved, businesses will need to reduce emissions by 60% in the next 10 years, as if we continue our current trajectory, we will reach 3 to 4 degrees of warming. The workshop showed that when you look at reduction initiatives it is achievable.’

Marta Karlik-Neale's commitment to sustainability through Mission Zero is paving the way for a greener future, demonstrating how a passion for sustainability stems beyond her role at T+T into action in her local community. T+T is proud to contribute to these workshops out of our Nelson office, for local businesses to begin their journey to sustained carbon emission reduction across the Tasman.