Answering the Climate Change Call with 2degrees: Our Collective Responsibility
December 12th 2024, Auckland New Zealand: 2degrees is stopping Aucklanders in their tracks
today, with a visual demonstration of the speed of climate change. The Answer the call installation
appeared at Takutai Square Britomart overnight, a head-turning ice sculpture made from rainwater
with mobile phones frozen inside.
In response to a climate crisis that cannot be ignored, the installation was created to demonstrate
the speed and scale of climate change and a commitment from 2degrees to reduce its emissions.
Unveiled at three metres high and two metres wide, the installation consists of 49 frozen blocks
and weighs in at more than two tonnes, made of approximately 2500 litres of rainwater.
The Answer the call installation will inevitably melt today in Takutai Square. On the other side of
the globe, in Antarctica and Greenland, the ice predicted to melt this year equates to the scale and
size of roughly 168 billion ice sculpture installations.* The amount of ice that melts each year in our
coldest regions is at such a large scale, it’s almost too hard for the mind to fathom for many. This
installation represents the climate crisis and helps us to understand the scale of the crisis.
“We knew we needed something bold, something that would stop people in their tracks, get them
thinking, engaging and talking about climate change. For us at 2degrees sustainability isn’t just a
checkbox – it’s a core part of what we stand for,” said Mark Callander, 2degrees Chief Executive.
“The installation has been sustainably planned and made from rainwater and the mobile phones
in the sculptures will be able to be used once the ice melts. The phones are being used
symbolically to demonstrate the connection between our industry and the need to act on
climate.”
“We recognise our industry’s impact, which is why we’re taking responsibility to lead by example.
It’s a physical representation of climate change and our commitment to answer the call,”
Callander added.
2degrees has today announced it is the first telecommunications company in New Zealand and
second New Zealand business to achieve validation for its Net Zero 2040 target from global
corporate climate action organisation, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Reaching Net Zero
requires us to reduce 90% of our greenhouse gas emissions and investment in initiatives to
balance out the rest. The targets have been validated by the SBTi in accordance with its Corporate
Net Zero Standard.
Behind the target is a robust emissions reduction strategy across 2degrees’ scope 1, 2 and 3
greenhouse gas emissions, from its 2022 baseline. This includes external audits of the company’s
emissions, cross-functional collaboration across the business, and engagement with its supply
chain partners.
“At 2degrees we are doing our part to combat climate change. We are the first New Zealand
telecommunications company to secure SBTi validation for our bold Net Zero 2040 target;
committing to reaching Net-Zero requires 90% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and
investment in initiatives to balance out the rest. Our targets have been validated by SBTi in
accordance with its Corporate Net Zero Standard,” Callander added.
Answer the call is designed to ignite conversation about climate change and visually
demonstrates 2degrees’ commitment to answering the call. By engaging people visually and
emotionally, 2degrees hopes the installation will inspire both awareness and commitment to
change.
2degrees has a commitment to sustainability, transparency, and climate action and will continue
to promote responsible business practices in New Zealand.
For more information about 2degrees’ sustainability initiatives or to discuss collaboration
opportunities, visit 2degrees.nz/sustainability.
