The Star: October 22, 2020

23
OPINION
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
It’s a year since Environment Canterbury
declared a climate-change emergency
IN JENNY OUR everyday HUGHEY lives explains we all what
make the council plans for has the been day doing. ahead,
perhaps The formal a weekend declaration away of in
Environment
a
a couple state of of climate months’ emergency time and across Canterbury Chair
possibly Canterbury to move was to one a new of the home most
in serious, the next and few colourful, years. moments
Jenny Hughey
It’s in the regional same for council’s local authorities
30-year when it history. comes to looking and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
more than
after A the year communities ago this Saturday, in their That work included setting by 2022. Carbon emissions from
regions at 11.49am, and guiding Environment them along up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation
the Canterbury path towards became a healthy New Zealand’s and programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity
sustainable
first council
future.
to proclaim
We need
such
to
an 2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes.
have
emergency,
short, medium
formally
and
dedicating
longterm
was actively considered across According to a Madworld report
itself to consideration of climate
change
plans
at
under
the heart
way.
workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were
of all it does.
By of the science and what we know
The
now
declaration
you may have
highlighted
heard
2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
about about the impact of climate
that the all the Greater work Christchurch
(CO2) equivalent, compared with
Environment
2050 change on Canterbury, and liaising
Canterbury plan and does are wondering
removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
– from
what on the issue with iwi and regional
freshwater it’s all about. management We need to your
equivalent through our efficiency
help partners, other local authorities
biodiversity to do this.
efforts and from forestry planting
and biosecurity,
I and central government.
transport invite you and to urban fill in development
our survey
across 2700 hectares.
at greaterchristchurch.org.nz
to air quality, and also regional
As an organisation, we have The changing climate will pose
It leadership would be – easy has a to climate roll the change
also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood
eyes focus. and think “what, another
addressing our own greenhousegas
emissions, with our
we have seen how occasional,
in Canterbury. In recent years
Currently, under the Resource
plan?” But GC2050 is going to
Management Act, regional Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather events have
be invaluable as we consider how
councils are required only to adapt “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and
the region will contend with the
to climate change, not mitigate rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year infrastructure around the South
challenges of climate change and
it – that responsibility is the to February on the National Island.
post-earthquake investment.
Government’s, but could change. Australian Built Environment The driest parts of our region,
You could also add a third
Even in ‘adapt mode’ many Rating System New Zealand. along the Marlborough coast and
challenge too – a recovery from
of Environment Canterbury’s The building’s features include across much of the Canterbury
the ongoing likely impacts of PROBLEM: Jenny Hughey says sea-level rise and coastal
existing policies and plans already 184 solar panels which can Plains, are expected to get even
Covid-19.
erosion will make it unsustainable to build new homes and
contribute to reduced emissions. generate more than 55,000 drier. North-westerly storms are
Environment In declaring Canterbury the climate is infrastructure in some areas of Greater Christchurch.
kilowatt hours of electricity per predicted to become more intense,
one emergency, of eight agencies the Council involved noted it year.
with torrential alpine rainstorms
in would the Greater continue Christchurch to show leadership councils, There has the been Canterbury a 26% reduction District turning Thirty our years braided seems rivers a long into way
Partnership, on climate-change working and alongside do so Health per staff Board, member Waka in emissions Kotahi New away. roaring But rapids, it is important fuelling landslides for
Te without Rūnanga adding o Ngāi new Tahu, programmes the Zealand since 30 Transport June 2010. Agency We now and have planning and causing that widespread we think erosion. beyond
Christchurch at ratepayers’ City expense. Council, It also the gave the access Department to electric of and Prime hybrid Minister
vehicles and Cabinet and hope (DPMC). to have half our We communities need to get will a sense be threatened of
this Canterbury’s generation coastal and into the next.
Waimakariri staff a clear mandate Selwyn to continue district
what
by Greater sea-level Christchurch rise this century is and and will
our be, productive and how it and contributes protected to land the
jeopardised rest of New by Zealand. the arrival and
spread The of regional new, exotic council weeds is particularly
from concerned warmer climates. with how the
and
pests
changing All these climate eventualities may have affect us
to in be the planned next few and decades. prepared for,
and
Greater
Environment
Christchurch’s
Canterbury
will
economy
remain
will
in the
be
vanguard
especially
of
vulnerable
to climate change, given
these climate change efforts.
One example is the $40 million
Waimakariri
up to 15 per
River
cent of
flood
it depends on
protection agriculture. project, completed
late As last we year. know, The this network sector of will
floodgates be affected and by stopbanks water shortages, will
protect stronger half winds a million and people warmer and
$8 temperatures. billion of community And while and warmer
business temperatures assets from may allow a possible us to
“super grow new flood”. varieties of plants, they
will The also last affect major existing flood was crops in and
December introduce 1957, new pests when and parts diseases
of which Coutts need Island managing.
Belfast and
Kainga An even were bigger swamped potential by river
flow problem peaking during at 3990 the cubic next three
metres decades per is second how sea-level (cumecs). rise and
The coastal protection erosion scheme will make has been it unsustainable
to defend to build Christchurch new homes
designed
from and infrastructure a flood of much in some as 6500 areas
cumecs.
of Greater Christchurch, which
Environment Canterbury’s
has been recognised as the country’s
largest
leadership of biodiversity and
biosecurity programmes
urban area
is
exposed
also
underpinned
to such risk.
by climate-change
concerns. Sea-level rise is expected to affect
Canterbury’s as many as distinct 14,000 braided buildings
rivers in Greater and unique Christchurch, wetlands which face
many have challenges. a replacement The value rivers of form
a about vital ecological $3 billion. link Infrastructure
and provide
an at abundant risk includes food 300km supply of and roads
nesting and other grounds access for routes, 26 species and of
native more birds than – 700km most classified of freshwater, as
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
serious, and colourful, moments
in the regional council’s more than
30-year history.
A year ago this Saturday,
at 11.49am, Environment
Canterbury became New Zealand’s
first council to proclaim such an
emergency, formally dedicating
itself to consideration of climate
change at the heart of all it does.
The declaration highlighted
that all the work Environment
Canterbury does – from
freshwater management to
biodiversity and biosecurity,
transport and urban development
to air quality, and also regional
leadership – has a climate change
focus.
Currently, under the Resource
Management Act, regional
councils are required only to adapt
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
and enhance that work.
That work included setting
up a climate-change integration
programme in the Long-term Plan
2018-28, ensuring climate change
was actively considered across
workstreams, increasing visibility
of the science and what we know
about the impact of climate
change on Canterbury, and liaising
on the issue with iwi and regional
partners, other local authorities
and central government.
As an organisation, we have
also made significant progress in
addressing our own greenhousegas
emissions, with our
Christchurch building receiving a
“market-leading” energy efficiency
rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year
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 22 2020 The Star
Planning for future generations
threatened stormwater and and facing wastewater increased
pressures pipelines. due to river system
change. When it comes to water, we
also Wetlands need are to plan also ecosystems to protect its
at-risk quantity nationally and quality and regionally, and ensure
degraded coastal freshwater by draining, does damming not
and become diversion tainted affecting by incursions their of
ability
saltwater.
to sequester carbon,
cleanse freshwater and mitigate
We all know that how we, as a
flooding, as well as impacting on
region and a greater urban area,
biodiversity and mahinga kai.
treat
With
our
biosecurity,
natural
we
environment
are
putting has a direct greater impact emphasis on on our the wellbeing.
of new Decisions pests establishing made through
risks
in GC2050 Canterbury. will Warming play a huge role in
temperatures, developing long-term changing soils work and programmes
land uses that mean are new appropriately weeds
new
especially, funded – will programmes be able to gain which a
better ensure foothold a sustainable across the future. region.
More This broadly, month we has have been to earmarked
reliance for on public fossil engagement,
fuels and
curb
find ahead environmentally of workshops suitable later in the
alternatives, year to come such up as with electricity potential and
hydrogen, initiatives to and power then our detailed public
transport. plan development next year. I
encourage When my predecessor you to find Steve out more
Lowndes at greaterchristchurch.org.nz.
retired as chair of
this Keep council in late mind last how year, your he
highlighted
children and
some
grandchildren
of the big
changes on the way. He was
might want to find this place in
optimistic we would be able to
deal
decades
with the
to
“pressing
come.
issues” of
climate • Cr Jenny change Hughey and sustainability. is chair
of I share the his Canterbury confidence. As Regional a
community, Council (Environment
and as a council,
we Canterbury)
are taking some bold steps to
ensure we are in a better place to
cope with the changing climate
and the tests it will set us. But
there will always be a need to do
more.
by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased
SECURITY
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
LIGHTING
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
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
by 2022. Carbon emissions Repair from or install will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
air travel across the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
are offset via our own • Feel biodiversity secure One in your example home is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
programmes. • Increase visibility,
protection
deter
project,
intruders
completed putting greater emphasis on the
According to a Madworld • Prevent report unwanted late last year. accidents
The network of risks of new pests establishing
in 2019, our gross emissions were
2253 tonnes of carbon • Provide dioxide peace floodgates of mind and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and
(CO2) equivalent, compared with
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
business assets from a possible Give us especially, a call today will be able 24/7 to gain a
equivalent through our efficiency
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
efforts and from forestry planting The last major flood was in 03 365 More broadly, 9712we have to
across 2700 hectares.
December 1957, when parts
The changing climate will pose
aoteaelectriccanterbury.co.nz
curb reliance on fossil fuels and
of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
many risks to life and livelihood Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
in Canterbury. In recent Award years winning flow company, peaking at 3990 trusted cubic in Canterbury hydrogen, to power for 37 our years public
we have seen how occasional, 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 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 leadership of biodiversity and optimistic we would be able to
across much 9 –15 of the Canterbury FEBRUARY biosecurity 2021 HIGHLIGHTS
programmes is also deal with the “pressing issues” of
Plains, are expected to get even underpinned by
•
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Jenny Hughey
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