The Star: September 17, 2020

since Environment Canterbury
a climate-change emergency
Environment
Canterbury Chair
Jenny Hughey
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
TEN That YEARS work after included the first setting of building by 2022. façade. Carbon Council emissions staff from
the up many a climate-change damaging quakes integration that are air currently travel across working the organisation with
s shook programme Christchurch, in the Long-term work is Plan engineers are offset to via confirm our own how biodiversity to best
ongoing 2018-28, to rebuild ensuring the climate central change secure programmes. the Odeon frontage allowing
According the containers to a Madworld to be safely report
city. was actively considered across
While workstreams, significant increasing progress visibility has removed, in 2019, which our gross will emissions vastly improve
2253 the tonnes traffic of carbon and pedestrian dioxide
were
been of made, the science a small and number what we of know
sites about still the appear impact as they of climate did postquake,
change fronted Canterbury, by containers, and liaising removals Investigations of 7883 will tonnes also of con-
CO2-
experience (CO2) equivalent, in the area. compared with
awaiting on the a issue future. with iwi and regional firm equivalent what works through are our necessary efficiency
The partners, Canterbury other local Regional authorities to efforts be able and to from use the forestry Lawrie planting and
Council and central (Environment government. Canterbury)
As an recently organisation, bought we such have From The changing a practical climate perspective, will pose
Wilson across building. 2700 hectares.
a site also – made the Lawrie significant and Wilson progress in the many purchase risks to also life completes and livelihood
building addressing and the our adjacent own greenhousegas
emissions, – immediately with our next door Before we have the seen quakes, how the occasional, council
Odeon consolidation in Canterbury. of In our recent current years site.
Theatre
to the Christchurch council’s Tuam building St receiving building,
“market-leading” for $2.95m. Effectively, energy efficiency we’ve had To support huge effects the recovery, on residents it was and
a was but based extreme, in Kilmore weather St. events have
t
exchanged rating of cash 5.0 out held of 6 in in reserves the year asked infrastructure to rebuild around on an oddlyshaped
the South
for to an February asset, so on our the balance National sheet Island.
central city site on Tuam
remains
Australian
the same.
Built Environment
St, brought
The driest
together
parts of
quickly
our region,
in
It
Rating
is exciting
System
that
New
both
Zealand.
sites are
along the Marlborough coast and
2013 to enable that to occur.
The building’s features include across much of the Canterbury
heritage listed, especially given The council moved into a
184 solar panels which can Plains, are expected to get even
the central city has lost so much
generate more than 55,000
new
drier.
purpose-built
North-westerly
building
storms
in
are
of its
kilowatt
heritage.
hours
We
of
are
electricity
proud to
per
2016
predicted
and has
to
since
become
sought
more
to
intense,
be able
year.
to protect the historic consolidate with torrential the site. alpine It did rainstorms that
elements There of has both been buildings a 26% reduction for with turning a land our purchase braided rivers across into
the future.
the St Asaph St boundary in
Those per staff travelling member along in emissions Tuam 2018, roaring and rapids, again with fuelling this landslides latest
St will since know 30 June the 2010. Odeon We is now one
have
access to electric and hybrid purchase, and causing which widespread effectively erosion.
Canterbury’s coastal fills
of the few remaining CBD sites in the Tuam-Manchester St
with vehicles containers and hope fronting to have the
half our
corner.
communities will be threatened
by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased
our productive and protected land pressures due to river system
jeopardised by the arrival and change.
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally,
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to
December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and
of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
flow peaking at 3990 cubic hydrogen, to power our public
metres per second (cumecs). transport.
WIN-WIN:
The protection
The
scheme
council’s
has been
purchase
When
of two
my predecessor
heritage-listed
Steve
sites on the Tuam-Manchester St
corner
designed
will
to defend
protect
Christchurch
heritage, clean
Lowndes
up the
retired
sites
as chair
and
of
provide options for the future.
from a flood of as much as 6500 this council late last year, he
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
cumecs. We think there’s a win-win in highlighted Whatever some option of the the big council Citizens are encouraged to
investing
Environment
money
Canterbury’s
in an asset and
changes
determines,
on the
it
way.
will be
He
mindful
was
of talk with the council during the
addressing
leadership of
an
biodiversity
eyesore problem
and optimistic
the benefit
we
to
would
the ratepayer,
be able to
and public forum at the start of the
biosecurity programmes is also deal with the “pressing issues” of
for the community. The buildings
efficient use of public resources.
underpinned by climate-change climate change and sustainability.
monthly council meetings. Simply
give us a call and let us know
concerns.
also provide options for the We
I share
also acknowledge
his confidence.
the
As a
council Canterbury’s for the future. distinct braided community, responsibility and we as now a council, have for you wish to speak.
rivers Those and include unique office wetlands rental face we improving are taking the some two bold sites steps for the to We welcome your attendance.
space, many co-location challenges. The of public rivers form ensure benefit we of are the in community a better place and to
sector organisations, providing
a space for community
area.
the appearance of the immediate
interaction with environmental
nesting grounds for 26 species of We be keeping the there will always be a need to community
informed as we make
do
issues and the work we do in the
region.
more.
those decisions.
It’s a year since Environment Canterbury
declared a climate-change emergency
JENNY HUGHEY explains what
the council has been doing.
The formal declaration of a
state of climate emergency across
Canterbury was one of the most
End of
serious, and colourful, moments
in the regional
winter
council’s more than
30-year history.
and enhance that work.
A year ago this Saturday,
That work included setting
at 11.49am, Environment
up a climate-change integration
Canterbury became New Zealand’s
specials!
programme in the Long-term Plan
first council to proclaim such an 2018-28, ensuring climate change
emergency, formally dedicating was actively considered across
itself to consideration of climate workstreams, increasing visibility
change at the heart of all it does.
of the science and what we know
The declaration highlighted
that all the The work perfect Environment heating about and the impact of climate
change on Canterbury, and liaising
Canterbury cooling does – from solutions on for the issue with iwi and regional
freshwater management your to home partners, other local authorities
biodiversity and biosecurity,
and central government.
transport and urban development
to air quality, and also regional
As an organisation, we have
leadership – has a climate change
also made significant progress in
focus.
addressing our own greenhousegas
emissions, with our
Currently, under the Resource
Management Act, regional Christchurch building receiving a
councils are required only to adapt “market-leading” energy efficiency
to climate change, not mitigate rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year
it – that responsibility is the to February on the National
Government’s, but could change. Australian Built Environment
Even in ‘adapt mode’ many Rating System New Zealand.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Environment
Canterbury Chair
Jenny Hughey
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
by 2022. Carbon emissions from
air travel across the organisation
are offset via our own biodiversity
programmes.
According to a Madworld report
in 2019, our gross emissions were
2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
(CO2) equivalent, compared with
removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
equivalent through our efficiency
efforts and from forestry planting
across 2700 hectares.
The changing climate will pose
many risks to life and livelihood
in Canterbury. In recent years
we have seen how occasional,
of Environment We supply, Canterbury’s install, maintain The building’s features include
existing and policies repair and all plans major already brands
184 solar
of
panels which can Plains, are expected to get even
contribute to reduced emissions. generate more than FREE 55,000 QUOTESdrier. North-westerly storms are
domestic and commercial
In declaring the climate
kilowatt air hours of electricity per predicted to become more intense,
emergency, conditioning, the Council ventilation noted it year. and FAST INSTALLATION with torrential alpine rainstorms
would refrigeration.
continue to show leadership There has been a
66
26%
YEARS
reduction
TRADING
turning our braided rivers into
on climate-change and do so per staff member in emissions roaring rapids, fuelling landslides
without Plus adding swimming new programmes pool heat pumps. since 30 June 2010. We now have and causing widespread erosion.
at ratepayers’ expense. It also gave
staff a clear mandate to continue
access to electric and hybrid
vehicles and hope to have half our
Canterbury’s coastal
communities will be threatened
by sea-level rise this century and
our productive and protected land
jeopardised by the arrival and
spread of new, exotic weeds and
pests from warmer climates.
All these eventualities have
to be planned and prepared for,
and Environment Canterbury
will remain in the vanguard of
these climate change efforts.
One example is the $40 million
Waimakariri River flood
protection project, completed
late last year. The network of
floodgates and stopbanks will
protect half a million people and
Biscuit $8 packet billion of community Chip and packet
business assets from a possible
“super flood”.
The last major flood was in
December 1957, when parts
of Coutts Island in Belfast and
Kainga were swamped by river
flow peaking at 3990 cubic
Soft plastics
metres per second (cumecs). transport.
but extreme, weather events have The protection scheme has been When my predecessor Steve
had huge effects on residents and designed to defend Christchurch Lowndes retired as chair of
infrastructure around the South
go in the red bin
from a flood of as much as 6500 this council late last year, he
Island.
cumecs.
highlighted some of the big
The driest parts of our region, Environment Canterbury’s changes on the way. He was
along the Marlborough coast and
across much of the Canterbury
leadership of biodiversity and
biosecurity programmes is also
underpinned by climate-change
concerns.
Thursday September 17 2020 The Star
OPINION 23
Another step to protect city’s heritage
8 Marylands Place, Middleton
P: 03 338 6200
E: office@piersons.co.nz
www.piersons.co.nz
EXPERTISE | INNOVATION | SERVICE | SAFETY
threatened and facing increased
pressures due to river system
change.
Wetlands are also ecosystems
at-risk nationally and regionally,
degraded by draining, damming
and diversion affecting their
ability to sequester carbon,
cleanse freshwater and mitigate
flooding, as well as impacting on
biodiversity and mahinga kai.
With biosecurity, we are
putting greater emphasis on the
risks of new pests establishing
in Canterbury. Warming
temperatures, changing soils and
new land Bread uses bags mean new weeds
especially, will be able to gain a
better foothold across the region.
More broadly, we have to
curb reliance on fossil fuels and
find environmentally suitable
alternatives, such as electricity and
hydrogen, to power our public
optimistic we would be able to
deal with the “pressing issues” of
climate change and sustainability.
I share his confidence. As a
That’s anything Canterbury’s you distinct can braided scrunch community, in your and hand as a council,
rivers and unique wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
many challenges. The rivers form ensure we are in a better place to
a vital ecological link and provide cope with the changing climate
an abundant food supply and and the tests it will set us. But
nesting grounds for 26 species of there will always be a need to do
native birds – most classified as more.
Thanks for bin good.
ccc.govt.nz/redbin