The Star: October 08, 2020

since Environment Canterbury
climate-change emergency
by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased billion cu m for community and
our productive and protected land pressures due to river system other uses.
Environment
jeopardised by the arrival and change.
Another 8.35 billion cu m
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems a year is consented for hydroelectricity,
which comprises 55
Canterbury Chair
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally,
Jenny Hughey
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming per cent of the total water volume
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their consented in Canterbury.
The region has about 4800
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
surface water consents and 7500
WHEN That work REFLECTING included setting on the 624,000 by 2022. people. Carbon By emissions 2043, we’re from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
groundwater consents and it’s
task up a council climate-change faces managing integration projected air travel to across have 767,300. the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai. estimated that around 70 per cent
environmental programme in issues the Long-term in the Plan are The offset size of via Canterbury our own biodiversity and
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are of New Zealand’s irrigated land is
Canterbury 2018-28, ensuring region, climate and when change its programmes.
extensive, isolated hinterland
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the in Canterbury.
explaining was actively it to considered others, there’s across a means According its average to a population Madworld report
late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing Did you know there are more
raft workstreams, of numbers increasing that help explain visibility density in 2019, of our 12.1 gross people emissions per sq km were
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming than 300 ancient Māori rock art
the of the scale science and range and what of the we special know is 2253 lower tonnes than New of carbon Zealand’s dioxide average
(CO2) of 15.9. equivalent, compared with
protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and (tuhituhi neherā) sites across
region about we the all impact know of and climate love.
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds Canterbury? And we mustn’t
change From the on Canterbury, ramparts of the and liaising removals Fifty-five of per 7883 cent tonnes of South of CO2-
business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a forget about our rare, precious
Southern on issue Alps with and iwi the and Kaikōura regional Islanders equivalent live through in Canterbury. our efficiency Of
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region. wildlife, including the Kaikōura
ranges partners, to other volcanic local authorities hills of the efforts region’s and residents, from forestry 62 per planting cent
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to sea slug Smeagol manneringi,
Banks and central Peninsula, government. the glacial reside across in 2700 Christchurch hectares. and 82
December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and named after Tolkien’s character
lakes As and organisation, rivers to the Canterbury
also Plains, made significant our region progress has huge in which many includes risks to the life Waimakariri
and livelihood ALPINE: Kainga were Canterbury swamped has by river more than alternatives, 4700 lakes such and as electricity tarns and The sum of these parts – and
we have per The cent changing Greater climate Christchurch, will pose of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable Smeagol/Gollum.
physical addressing diversity our own and greenhousegas
emissions, with our
we We have seen about how 800km occasional, of coast-
whole. It’s good to be reminded of
extremes of and in Canterbury. Selwyn districts. In recent years including flow peaking the at picturesque 3990 cubic Lake Lyndon. hydrogen, to power our public others – make up a magical
weather.
Canterbury is New Zealand’s line and 11,620 sq km of coastal cent
metres
of the
per
country’s
second
highest
(cumecs).
quality
much
transport.
Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather events have
of it falling in the Southern some of the ingredients that make
largest “market-leading” region, with energy a land efficiency area marine area. There are more than
The
soils.
protection
According
scheme
to Statistics
has been
Alps. About
When
11
my
per
predecessor
cent of New
Steve
had huge effects on residents and
our region what it is – and you
of rating 44,508 of sq 5.0 km. out Running of 6 the from year 4700 lakes and tarns, and more NZ
designed
in 2016,
to
Canterbury
defend Christchurch
farms Zealand’s
Lowndes
annual
retired
rain
as
falls
chair
in
of
infrastructure around the South
Canterbury.
never know when they’ll pop up
north to February of Kēkerengū on the National in the than 78,000km of rivers and represent
from a flood
about
of
18.6
as much
per cent
as 6500 this council late last year, he
Island.
in your next pub quiz.
Kaikōura Australian district Built Environment
to the Waitaki streams.
of
cumecs.
The driest parts of our region, the total area farmed in New About
highlighted
70 per
some
cent of
of
New
the big
Zealand’s
River Rating in System the south, New west Zealand. to the along Cantabrians the Marlborough may take for coast granted
across their seven much spectacular of the Canterbury alpine Surprisingly,
and Zealand.
Environment Canterbury’s changes
groundwater
on the way.
– around
He was
519 • Cr Jenny Hughey is Chair
main The divide building’s and east features to the include 12
leadership of
for
biodiversity
a region which
and
billion
optimistic
cu m –
we
is in
would
Canterbury.
be able to
of the Canterbury Regional
nautical 184 solar mile panels offshore which limit, can it includes
generate 10 local more authorities than 55,000 and 10 of drier. their North-westerly type in the world storms – their are
braided Plains, rivers are expected – some to of get the even rarest can
biosecurity
often look
programmes
dry in summer,
is also
Across
deal with
the region,
the “pressing
about
issues”
9.2
of
Council. (Environment
colossal
underpinned
amounts
by
of
climate-change
water fall on,
climate change and sustainability.
billion cu m of freshwater is consented
to be taken each year – 3.6
Canterbury)
Ngāi kilowatt Tahu hours papatipu of electricity rūnanga per (Te closest predicted cousins to become are in Alaska, more intense,
and
concerns.
run through, our region.
I share his confidence. As a
Rūnanga year. o Ngāi Tahu). Environment
There Canterbury has been works a 26% closely
with reduction Of Canterbury’s torrential alpine 44,508 rainstorms
Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
Canada, and the Himalayas. On average, Canterbury billion cu m for irrigation, 0.3 billion
Canterbury
we cu are m for taking stockwater, some bold 5 billion
steps to
It’s a year since
turning our braided rivers sq into km Environment receives rivers about and unique 64 billion wetlands cubic
face
with all of them.
of land, about 55.3 per cent is metres
many
(cu
challenges.
m) of freshwater
The rivers form ensure we are in a better place to
cu m to schemes for stockwater
per staff member in emissions roaring rapids, fuelling landslides
Canterbury is home to about farmed, and the region has 21 per annually
a vital ecological
from rain and
link
snow,
and provide cope with the changing climate
and irrigation, and about 0.3
since 30 June 2010. We now declared have and causing widespread a climate-change erosion. an abundant food supply and emergency
and the tests it will set us. But
access to electric and hybrid JENNY HUGHEY explains Canterbury’s what coastal
nesting grounds for 26 species of there by will sea-level always rise be this a need century to and do threatened and facing increased
vehicles and hope to have the half council our has been communities doing. will be threatened native birds – most classified as more. our productive and protected land pressures due to river system
Environment
The formal declaration of a
jeopardised by the arrival and change.
state of climate emergency across
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems
Canterbury
Control
CHRISTCHURCH BOYS’ CHOIR CELEBRATES
Chair
35 years
Canterbury was
of
one the most
magic
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally,
serious, and colourful, moments
Jenny Hughey
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming
in the regional council’s more than
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their
30-year history.
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid your or long-range electric home
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
A year ago this Saturday,
That work included setting by 2022. Carbon emissions from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
at 11.49am, Environment
up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
Canterbury became New Zealand’s
from your One phone
example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
35 th Anniversary Dinner and programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity
first council to proclaim such an
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes.
‘Old Boys’ Concert emergency, formally dedicating
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
was actively considered across According • Heating
to a Madworld report
itself to consideration of climate
late last
workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were ...plus
year. The
other
network of risks of new pests establishing
change at the heart of all it does.
• Entertainment floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
7pm Saturday 24 th of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
The declaration
October
highlighted
2020
protect half options a million people and temperatures, changing soils and
about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with
at Christ’s College that all Dining the work Environment Hall
• Lighting
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
change on Canterbury, and liaising removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
Canterbury does – from
business assets from a possible
on the issue with iwi and regional equivalent
•
through
Access
our efficiency
& Security
available
especially, will be able to gain a
Calling all "Old Boys", freshwater friends, management families, to Committee and Music Team
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
partners, other local authorities efforts and from forestry planting
biodiversity and biosecurity,
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to
members. When and central government.
across 2700 hectares.
transport
were YOU
and urban
associated
development
the CBC, was it last year?
December 1957, when Give parts us a curb call reliance today on fossil 24/7 fuels and
to air quality, and also regional
As an organisation, we have The changing climate will pose
Was it 3 years ago? Maybe a decade ago? Were of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
leadership – has a climate change
also made
you
significant
a founding
progress in many risks to life and livelihood Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
member? To celebrate focus. the 35th Anniversary addressing of CBC, our we own will greenhousegas
emissions, with our
we have seen how occasional, metres per second (cumecs). aoteaelectriccanterbury.co.nz
transport.
be in Canterbury. In recent years
03 365 9712
flow peaking at 3990 cubic hydrogen, to power our public
Currently, under the Resource
hosting a magical dinner and you are invited.
Management Act, regional Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather events have The protection scheme has been When my predecessor Steve
councils are required only to adapt “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and
Go to www.facebook.com/ChristchurchBoysChoir
designed to defend Christchurch Lowndes retired as chair of
rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year infrastructure Award around winning the South company, from a flood of trusted as much as 6500 in Canterbury this council late for last
37
year, years he
to climate change, not mitigate
it – that responsibility is the
Government’s, but could change.
Even in ‘adapt mode’ many
of Environment Canterbury’s
existing policies and plans already
contribute to reduced emissions.
In declaring the climate
emergency, the Council noted it
would continue to show leadership
on climate-change and do so
without adding new programmes
at ratepayers’ expense. It also gave
staff a clear mandate to continue
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
to February on the National
Australian Built Environment
Rating System New Zealand.
The building’s features include
184 solar panels which can
generate more than 55,000
kilowatt hours of electricity per
year.
There has been a 26% reduction
per staff member in emissions
since 30 June 2010. We now have
access to electric and hybrid
vehicles and hope to have half our
Thursday October 8 2020 The Star
OPINION 29
Fun facts to store for the next pub quiz
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 leadership of biodiversity and optimistic we would be able to
across much of the Canterbury biosecurity programmes is also deal with the “pressing issues” of
Plains, are expected to get even underpinned by climate-change climate change and sustainability.
drier. North-westerly storms are concerns.
I share his confidence. As a
predicted to become more intense, Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
with torrential alpine rainstorms rivers and unique HIGHLIGHTS wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
turning our braided rivers into many challenges. The rivers form ensure we are in a better place to
roaring rapids, fuelling landslides a vital ecological • Weta link and Workshops provide cope Guided with the Tour
$2,280
changing climate
and causing widespread erosion. an abundant • food Te Papa supply In-Depth and and Private the tests Tour it will set us. But
Canterbury’s coastal
nesting grounds • A day for 26 in species the of Wairarapa there will always be a need to do
communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as more.
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