Complete agenda for October 2009 Council Meeting (pdf, 1610KB)

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Northland Regional Council - 21 October 2009 Page 151 Item 25Climate Change – Local Government Leaders'Position StatementFile 900.5Report from Kathryn Ross Local Government Senior Programme Managerdated 7 October 2009.PURPOSETo discuss the “Climate change – Local Government Leaders' Position Statement”and decide whether the Chairman should sign it on behalf of Council.THE CLIMATE CHANGE – LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS POSITIONSTATEMENTThe attached position statement on climate change is an output from the RegionalAffairs Committee and has National Council approval.The position statement is conservative 1 . It builds from big overarching statements onclimate change and local government’s role, to more specific statements about localgovernment’s position on adaptation and mitigation. For example:• “We commit to playing our part in helping New Zealand face the climate changechallenge. The key role we will play is to lead community responses to the risksand opportunities of climate change.• Councils provide a wise range of ratepayer funded services which will beimpacted by climate change.• We have a responsibility to help our communities prepare for and to adapt to thephysical effects of climate change…”.Local Government New Zealand has acknowledged that trying to establish thiscollective voice is a challenge. They highlight retaining one version, avoiding thetemptation to edit and “in cases accepting that the wording may not quite fit with anindividual leader’s or council’s perspective”, as being part of that challenge.The position statement specifically provides flexibility for individual councils to makechoices on climate change action. “Councils will individually show leadership andresponsibility by adopting mitigation 2 and adaptation 3 practices that will fit with theircommunity’s needs and aspirations.” The position statement clearly states that onesize will not fit all when climate change actions are being considered.Alongside this flexibility the position statement does “begin to assist local governmentspeak consistently on climate change issues”. It highlights that local government isprepared to play its part in preparing for the future and to respond to the challenges,risks and opportunities of climate change but it clearly places the responsibility forleadership on climate change mitigation on central government.A number (eight) of Councils have already signed the position statement and othershave agreed to do so. Local Government New Zealand will promote the position1 Local Government New Zealand report to National Council. The word “conservative” is usedhere in opposition to a word like radical, rather than to denote political affiliation.2 Mitigation is taking action to mitigate (avoid, moderate, alleviate) climate change (at scalesthat we cannot adapt to).3 Adaptation is about adapting to changes in climate that are already happening (or will flowthrough the system). How can people or organisations “climate proof” their property,business, etc. A key adaptation question is how to deal with the risk of climate change?
Northland Regional Council - 21 October 2009 Page 152 Item 25statement. Local Government New Zealand intends to seek signatures throughsector meetings and by communications to councils.It is anticipated that the position statement will be reviewed in two years time toreflect any changing emphasis, central government policy, or new research. Areview could therefore occur before the Council adopts its next Northland CommunityPlan (also known as the Long Term Council Community Plan or LTCCP) in 2012.COUNCIL’S CLIMATE CHANGE POSITIONIn the Northland Community Plan 2009-2019 the Council has stated that it will ensure“that mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change is an integral part of dayto day Council operations.” The Council, under the Local Government Act 2002, hasan important role identifying significant issues, such as climate change, facing theregion and takes account of the growing uncertainties and potential risks that climatechange brings.The Council currently uses a number of adaptation and mitigation approaches to dealwith climate change and has chosen to weave climate change considerations andaction across its business. For example, the Council tackles climate change throughits efforts on risk reduction, flooding and catchment management, water allocation,planning, research, transport and infrastructure, etc. The Council has alsorecognised the important role it has working with others, across differentorganisations and the community, to address climate change and meet its aims andadd value to the work of others. 4Using the backdrop of the Northland Community Plan 2009-19, the positionstatement appears to fit neatly with the Council’s current position on climate change.There is nothing on the face of the position statement that would constrain theCouncil’s ability to make choices on behalf of Northland.BACKGROUNDOn 17 February 2009, the Regional Affairs Committee considered a report onClimate Change. From that report it was agreed to draft a climate change positionstatement to represent the views of regional government. The National CouncilClimate Change Subcommittee subsequently considered and agreed that theposition statement could represent the view of all local government.The position statement was then signed off at National Council on 2 October 2009.Staff from a number of local authorities have contributed to the development of theposition statement.The following councils have already signed up to the position statement: EnvironmentBay of Plenty; Southland, and Horizons Regional Councils; Thames Coromandel,Marlborough, Tasman and South Waikato District Councils; and Dunedin CityCouncil.CONCLUSIONThe position statement appears to fit well with the Council’s stated position (in theNorthland Community Plan 2009-2019) on climate change and the activities andlevels of service the Council is currently pursuing. The position statement will bereviewed in two years time, prior to the next Community Plan. If the Council choosesto sign the position statement it would not be constrained in its ability to make futurechoices on climate change action on behalf of Northland’s community.4 See for example pages 13, 38 to 40.
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