26 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2021</strong> Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford Afternoons. 12PM – 4PM TUESDAY TO FRIDAY CHRISTCHURCH 100.1FM
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz ince Environment Canterbury climate-change emergency Taking care of our precious water by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased our productive and protected land pressures due to river system Environment jeopardised by the arrival and change. spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems Canterbury Chair pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally, Jenny Hughey All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their and enhance that work. fleet hybrid or long-range electric and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon, OUR GUSHING alpine braided certain the mana of waterways That work included setting by 2022. Carbon emissions from will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate rivers, meandering streams was retained. She also praised the up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on and creeks are often used as the work of individuals and community are groups offset and via our their own dedication biodiversity One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai. boundary programme lines for the regional Long-term and Plan Waimakariri River flood With biosecurity, we are territorial 2018-28, ensuring authorities, climate dividing change us to programmes. looking after the health of local protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the geographically. was actively considered across rivers. According to a Madworld report late last year. <strong>The</strong> network of risks of new pests establishing workstreams, But we all know increasing that water, visibility and <strong>The</strong> in 2019, charter our has gross grown emissions out of were floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming the of the all-important science and issues what around we know the 2253 highly tonnes successful of carbon Canterbury dioxide protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and it, about are not the constrained impact of climate by lines Water (CO2) Management equivalent, Strategy, compared with $8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds on change a map. on Our Canterbury, collective and concern liaising which, removals in 2009, of 7883 set a framework tonnes of CO2- QUALITY: business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a transcends on the issue that, with and iwi the and more regional for equivalent collaboration through on managing our efficiency A charter of partners, us involved “super flood”. other in local protecting authorities and the efforts region’s and freshwater. better foothold across the region. from forestry planting has signed nurturing <strong>The</strong> last major flood was in and central it, government. from whichever It across also comes 2700 hectares. from an October <strong>The</strong> 2018 changing meeting climate of the More broadly, we have to that will corner December 1957, when parts As an of organisation, Canterbury we we live have in, curb reliance on fossil fuels and help will pose the of Coutts Island in Belfast and also better. made significant progress in Christchurch-West many risks to life Melton and livelihood Zone find environmentally suitable protect our Kainga were swamped by river addressing Environment our Canterbury own greenhousegas emissions, recently flow peaking at 3990 cubic Committee, in Canterbury. which In ran recent a workshop alternatives, such as electricity and waterways. years committed with itself our to the new we with have representatives seen how occasional, from hydrogen, to power our public Community Waterways Partnership Charter, an agreement which universities and the city council Brown <strong>The</strong> that protection this approach scheme and has been Now is When the time my to predecessor think about Steve site for more details – ecan.govt. metres per second (cumecs). Christchurch building receiving a community but extreme, groups, weather Ngāi events Tahu, zone committee chairman Kevin community transport. members. May 10. Have a look at our web- have also “market-leading” involves the Christchurch energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and to work out an agreement to work designed is a “no-brainer”. to defend Christchurch whether Lowndes you want retired to stand as chair and of nz/waiwecare. City rating Council, of 5.0 out Canterbury of 6 in the University, to February the Department on the National of Conser- waterway year improve infrastructure urban stormwater around the and South This from wide-ranging a flood of as partnership much as 6500 make a this difference council to late your last local zone highlighted committee some and to of the big enough the importance of getting year, he I can’t recommend highly Island. health. will enable cumecs. us to improve co-ordination, Environment increase our effectiveness Canterbury’s protection changes and improvement on the way. He of was involved in this crucial work. vation, Australian businesses, Built Environment schools and I’m <strong>The</strong> really driest excited parts to of see our the region, environmental Rating System and New community Zealand. charter along come the Marlborough to life. Having coast this and at finding leadership funding of biodiversity and resources, and the region’s optimistic rivers, we streams, would lakes, be able to As always, please don’t hesitate groups. <strong>The</strong> building’s features include cross-community across much of and the Canterbury crossagency Plains, approach are expected will catalyse to get even programmes underpinned and do by something climate-change <strong>The</strong>se climate committees change are and vital sustainability. any other part of the regional and better biosecurity identify programmes gaps in is also estuaries deal and with groundwater. the “pressing issues” to of contact me on this topic or 184 Regional solar panels councillor which Nicole can Marshall generate signed more than the charter 55,000 for many drier. initiatives North-westerly around the storms are about concerns. those. parts of the I share CWMS. his confidence. <strong>The</strong>y make As a council’s work. Environment kilowatt hours Canterbury of electricity and per ecological predicted health, to become biodiversity, more intense, As Marshall Canterbury’s said at distinct the signing, the rivers charter and unique makes it wetlands “easier face ment Canterbury we are taking for some funding bold and braided recommendations community, to and Environ- as a council, signalled year. our commitment to and with recreational torrential value alpine of rainstorms Christchurch’s turning waterways. our braided rivers into to get many things challenges. done” and <strong>The</strong> will rivers make form other support ensure we of projects are in a with • Cr Jenny Hughey is chair steps to supporting <strong>The</strong>re has good been practices a 26% reduction and of the Canterbury Regional better place to targeting per staff member bad ones in to emissions put a stop to It roaring gives us rapids, another fuelling platform landslides people a vital more ecological aware of what link and they provide ecological, cope bioversity with the or changing environmental and outcomes. the tests it Decisions Council (Environment climate contaminants since 30 June of 2010. all kinds We now draining access into to our electric rivers and hybrid streams. ter quality Canterbury’s and will coastal further gutters. nesting grounds for 26 species of on water there allocation will always and nutrient be a need to do have from and which causing to improve widespread wa-erosion. are washing an abundant down food stormwater supply and Canterbury) will set us. But vehicles Associate It’s and Environment hope to a have year Minister Kiritapu Allen spoke at the ing us to carry out this work. I comes at the same time as nine their recommendations. half our since Environment Canterbury strengthen communities partnerships will be threatened allow- <strong>The</strong> native charter’s birds establishment – most classified as management more. are also driven by March 22 signing, saying it was couldn’t agree more with the view of Canterbury’s 10 water zone Applications for these positions the responsibility of all to make of Christchurch-West Melton committees are looking for new opened on <strong>April</strong> 12 and close on declared a climate-change emergency Time running out to make submissions on draft Long Term Plan JENNY HUGHEY explains what by sea-level rise this century and the council has been doing. Environment our productive and protected land <strong>The</strong> formal declaration of a jeopardised by the arrival and SUBMISSIONS state of climate ON our emergency draft across However, spread of new, I worry exotic that weeds the work and Canterbury Chair Long Term Canterbury Plan, which was one although of the most that pests we from have to warmer do collaboratively climates. set out as serious, a 10-year and colourful, plan, is essentially in our the operational regional council’s budget more than to net to be carbon planned zero and by prepared 2045 or for, moments Jenny Hughey to tackle All these challenge eventualities of getting have for the next 30-year three history. years, close on and enhance that work. fleet hybrid or long-range electric 2050 and gets Environment lost in the Canterbury shouting. Sunday. A year ago this Saturday, Mayor That work included setting by 2022. Carbon emissions from will remain in the vanguard of People may say they want the We have at 11.49am, received Environment a significant up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation these climate change efforts. buses to be free, but we don’t run number Canterbury of submissions became already, New Zealand’s Lianne Dalziel One example is the $40 million programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity the buses. first council to proclaim such an Waimakariri River flood and I hope emergency, there are formally more to 2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes. dedicating protection Until someone project, faces completed up to the come. was actively considered across According to a Madworld report itself to consideration of climate probably the most significant of elected officials accountable. nonsense late last of year. a competitive <strong>The</strong> network market of <strong>The</strong>re change are a number at the heart of workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were of all it does. these. I loved their passion and commitment to a just cause. And I competing protect half against a million each people other and for model floodgates that has and bus stopbanks companies will other issues <strong>The</strong> that declaration are out for of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide highlighted With the Schools Strike 4 Climate protest last week, there was don’t mind being the focus of contracts $8 billion instead of community of allowing and our consultation that all at the the work same Environment time – about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with change on Canterbury, and liaising removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2- the Climate Canterbury Change does Strategy – from is considerable focus on holding attention as the mayor. city business and neighbouring assets from a districts possible the issue with iwi and regional equivalent through our efficiency freshwater management to “super flood”. partners, other local authorities efforts and from forestry planting biodiversity and biosecurity, <strong>The</strong> last major flood was in and central government. across 2700 hectares. transport and urban development December 1957, when parts to air quality, and also regional As an organisation, we have <strong>The</strong> changing climate will pose of Coutts Island in Belfast and leadership – has a climate change also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood Kainga were swamped by river focus. addressing our own greenhousegas emissions, with our we have seen how occasional, metres per second (cumecs). in Canterbury. In recent years flow peaking at 3990 cubic Currently, under the Resource Management Act, regional Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather events have <strong>The</strong> protection scheme has been councils are required only to adapt “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and designed to defend Christchurch to climate change, not mitigate rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year infrastructure around the South from a flood of as much as 6500 it – that responsibility is the to February on the National Island. cumecs. Government’s, but could change. Australian Built Environment <strong>The</strong> driest parts of our region, Environment Canterbury’s Even in ‘adapt mode’ many Rating System New Zealand. along the Marlborough coast and leadership of biodiversity and of Environment Canterbury’s <strong>The</strong> building’s features include across much of the Canterbury biosecurity programmes is also existing policies and plans already 184 solar panels which can Plains, are expected to get even underpinned by climate-change contribute to reduced emissions. generate more than 55,000 drier. North-westerly storms are concerns. In declaring the climate kilowatt hours of electricity per predicted to become more intense, Canterbury’s distinct braided emergency, the Council noted it year. with torrential alpine rainstorms rivers and unique wetlands face would continue to show leadership <strong>The</strong>re has been a 26% reduction turning our braided rivers into many challenges. <strong>The</strong> rivers form on climate-change and do so per staff member in emissions roaring rapids, fuelling landslides a vital ecological link and provide without adding new programmes since 30 June 2010. We now have and causing widespread erosion. an abundant food supply and at ratepayers’ expense. It also gave access to electric and hybrid Canterbury’s coastal nesting grounds for 26 species of staff a clear mandate to continue vehicles and hope to have half our communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> OPINION 27 threatened and facing increased pressures due to river system change. to run Wetlands a fully are integrated also ecosystems public transport at-risk nationally system, and nothing regionally, will change. degraded by draining, damming and <strong>The</strong> diversion irony is affecting that public their transport ability was to one sequester of the carbon, key issues, cleanse freshwater and mitigate along flooding, with as ECan’s well as monitoring impacting on and biodiversity enforcement and mahinga of quarries, kai. and the With risk of biosecurity, nitrates infiltrating we are our aquifers, putting greater that were emphasis the focus on the of our risks city’s of new submission pests establishing on ECan’s Long in Canterbury. Term Plan. Warming temperatures, I hope the powers changing that soils be and listen to new us in land the uses same mean way new we weeds are listening especially, to will the be students. 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 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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