The Star: March 04, 2021

The Star Thursday March 4 2021
24
OPINION
since Environment Canterbury
climate-change emergency
Long Term Plan – good things take time
by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased restore regional biodiversity.
our productive and protected land pressures due to river system I hope you can find time to at
Environment
jeopardised by the arrival and change.
least skim through each section
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems
Canterbury Chair
of the draft plan. Consultation
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally, starts on March 8 and runs until
Jenny Hughey
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming April 11, with hearings scheduled
at the end of April.
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their
TEN and YEARS enhance may that sound work. like a diversity fleet hybrid and biosecurity or long-range during electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon, In the consultation material
long That time work but, included environmental setting the by next 2022. decade. Carbon emissions from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate we have put forward two options
terms, up a climate-change it is the blink of integration an eye. air We travel have across some really the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on – they come with different levels
exciting, One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
programme Some of our in most the Long-term important Plan and are crucial, offset via programmes our own biodiversity
of rates needed and different
in this Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
work 2018-28, takes ensuring a good deal climate of time. change area, programmes.
activity. It is now over to the
ones that will help bolster protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
There was actively are very considered few quick fixes across a natural According environment to a Madworld which report
community to have your say, and
late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing
that workstreams, can be achieved increasing just visibility a few supports in 2019, cultural, our gross physical emissions and were
I am looking forward to your
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
weeks of the or science months. and what we know economic 2253 tonnes well-being of carbon for dioxide all. CRUCIAL: Pest management is one of the important input. The easiest way to find out
about Canterbury the impact regional of climate councillors
change have on taken Canterbury, exciting and liaising critical removals work of is 7883 in pest tonnes manage-
of CO2-
online at haveyoursay.ecan.govt.
(CO2) Some of equivalent, the council’s compared most with programmes
protect half a million
in the
people
proposed
and
Long
temperatures,
Term Plan.
changing soils and more and give your feedback is
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
gramme business and assets the South from a Island possible We especially, need to will make be sure able to agencies,
better organisations foothold across and individu-
the region.
gain a
well-being on the issue approach with iwi to and our regional ment, equivalent to ensure through we protect our efficiency
nz/LTP
our Councils’ “super flood”. Biosecurity Alliance.
Long-Term partners, other Plan local Te Pae authorities Tawhiti biodiversity, efforts and mahinga from forestry kai and planting
It’s vital we have a robust and
These The enable last major us to share flood knowledge
December and resources, 1957, when and deliver parts implement curb reliance revival on strategies fossil fuels and and
was in als work More closely broadly, to develop we have and to
2021-31. and central We have government. just approved economic across 2700 production. hectares.
widely accepted Long-Term Plan
the As Deciding an organisation, What the we Future have of When The changing it comes to climate pests, will we pose
that charts our aspirations into
more of Coutts efficient Island programmes in Belfast for and do find our environmentally best, at Environment suitable the years ahead and explains
Canterbury also made significant Looks Like progress consultation
addressing document our for own the greenhouse-
Long- to in work Canterbury. hard to prevent In recent new years Long-Term flow peaking Plan at there 3990 is cubic provi-
in a hydrogen, way that to protects power braided-
our public be funded. If you have any
in need many to empower risks to life all and Cantabrians livelihood communities. Kainga were In swamped our proposed by river Canterbury, alternatives, to such manage as electricity our land and clearly how our activities will
Term gas emissions, Plan 2021-31, with which our will and we emerging have seen pests how occasional, and invasive sion metres for work per second using a (cumecs). mix of river transport. values.
questions, feel free to contact
be Christchurch available from building March receiving 8. The a organisms but extreme, gaining weather any events kind of have central The protection government scheme funds has and been We When also want my predecessor to manage and Steve your local regional councillor.
draft “market-leading” Long-Term Plan energy sets efficiency out foothold had huge here. effects on residents and some designed ratepayer to defend support Christchurch – to maintain Lowndes regional retired parks as chair and of Their contact details are on
what rating we of want 5.0 out to achieve of 6 in the for year the infrastructure We want to support around large-scale the South enable from the a flood creation of as of much jobs as and 6500 propose this council sponsoring late last or year, supporting
highlighted at least three some events of the each big year
he the Environment Canterbury
region to February during on the the next National decade. biosecurity Island. partnerships, such the cumecs. fast tracking of wilding pine
Australian
website.
We are now Built seeking Environment your as Pest-Free The driest Banks parts Peninsula of our region, to clearance Environment in the region. Canterbury’s which changes connect the the way. community He was
views Rating about System the New programmes Zealand. protect along and the Marlborough enhance biodiversity coast and Work leadership to protect of biodiversity and revive and our with optimistic the rivers, we including would be finishing
deal The with Willows the “pressing development issues” in of
able to
• Cr Jenny Hughey is chair
and The priorities building’s we are features proposing. include
across Te much Pātaka of o the Rākaihautū, Canterbury incredible biosecurity braided programmes rivers is is also also a
of the Canterbury Regional
These 184 solar plans panels take an which intergenerational
generate more approach than 55,000 to keep drier. It’s vital North-westerly also continue storms are section concerns. of the draft Long-Term Park. I share his confidence. As a
can Kaitorete Plains, are and expected the Port to Hills. get even consideration underpinned in by the climate-change
biodiversity the climate Waimakariri change River and sustainability.
Regional
Council (Environment
Canterbury)
us kilowatt moving hours and ensure of electricity a resilient per strengthening predicted to become collaborative more biosecurity
with torrential partnerships alpine at rainstorms the local, Braided rivers are defining stream I’d like to mention is Me
intense, Plan. Canterbury’s distinct braided One community, other really and worthy as a council, work-
future year. for Waitaha, our Canterbury
There region. has been 26% reduction regional turning and our national braided rivers levels, into
rivers and unique wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
features many challenges. of our region The and rivers are form Uru ensure Rākau, we in are which in a better we propose place to
per I’d staff like
It’s
to member talk a little in
a
emissions about
year
including roaring
since
rapids, the National fuelling Wilding
Environment
landslides crucial a vital ecological corridors link and provide from
Canterbury
to work cope with at grassroots the changing level climate with
one since of my 30 June special 2010. interests We now and have Conifer and causing Control widespread Programme, erosion. the an Southern abundant Alps food to supply the Pacific and landowners the tests and it community will set us. But
outline access what declared to electric is proposed and hybrid for bio-
Wallaby a climate-change Canterbury’s Management coastal Pro-
Ocean. emergency
nesting grounds for 26 species of groups there to will protect, always plant be a need and to do
vehicles and hope to have half our communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as more.
JENNY HUGHEY explains what
JOIN the council US NOW! has been See doing. website for details
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
SUNGLASS STYLE
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to air quality, and also regional
leadership – has a climate change
and focus. Tiffany & Co in store.
Currently, under the Resource
From Management 50% off Act, RRP regional
Selected councils styles. 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
STYLES MAY DIFFER TO IMAGE SHOWN
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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
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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 CANTERBURY
panels which can
generate more than 55,000
kilowatt hours $20 of and electricity under. per
year. While stocks last.
There has been a 26% reduction
per staff member in emissions
since 30
ANDREA
June 2010.
BIANI
We now have
access to electric and hybrid
vehicles T&Cs and hope apply to have half our
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Environment
Canterbury Chair
Jenny Hughey
All NSW State of Origin
Ladies last pairs from $49.90.
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
fan setting in Heating Mode
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,
but extreme, weather events have
had huge effects on residents and
infrastructure around the South
Island.
The driest parts of our region,
along the Marlborough coast and
across much of the Canterbury
Plains, are expected to get even
drier. North-westerly storms are
predicted to become more intense,
with torrential alpine rainstorms
turning our braided rivers into
roaring rapids, fuelling landslides
and causing widespread erosion.
Canterbury’s coastal
communities will be threatened
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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
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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
$8 billion of community and
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
metres per second (cumecs).
The protection scheme has been
designed to defend Christchurch
from a flood of as much as 6500
cumecs.
Environment Canterbury’s
leadership of biodiversity and
biosecurity programmes is also
underpinned by climate-change
concerns.
Canterbury’s distinct braided
rivers and unique wetlands face
many challenges. The rivers form
a vital ecological link and provide
an abundant food supply and
nesting grounds for 26 species of
native birds – most classified as
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.
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With biosecurity, we are
putting greater emphasis on the
risks of new pests establishing
in Canterbury. Warming
temperatures, changing soils and
new land uses mean new weeds
especially, will be able to gain a
better foothold across the region.
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More broadly, we have to
curb reliance on fossil fuels and
find environmentally suitable
alternatives, 0800 such 324 as electricity 678and
hydrogen, to power www.dcis.co.nz
our public
transport.
When my predecessor Steve
Lowndes retired as chair of
this council late last year, he
highlighted some of the big
changes on the way. He was
optimistic we would be able to
deal with the “pressing issues” of
climate change and sustainability.
I share his confidence. As a
community, and as a council,
we 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.
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