The Star: June 03, 2021

since Environment Canterbury
climate-change emergency
A stronger voice to address climate change
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
ONCE and enhance UPON that a time, work. you could a climate fleet hybrid emergency or long-range and we have electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
have That argued work that included putting setting climate climate by 2022. change Carbon at the emissions heart of our from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
change up a climate-change to one side was integration about work air travel programmes. across the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
putting programme the urgent in the ahead Long-term of the Plan It are is offset wonderful via our that own this biodiversity councilwide
programmes. collaboration gives us a
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
important. 2018-28, ensuring climate change
was But actively not now considered – climate change across is stronger According voice to to campaign a Madworld on report
late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing
urgent, workstreams, and we increasing need to act visibility now to such in 2019, a vital our issue. gross emissions were
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
mitigate of the science its effects. and what we know Climate 2253 tonnes change of carbon is already dioxide
protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and
about The consequences the impact of of climate dragging
change the on chain Canterbury, for humanity and and liaising communities removals of in 7883 the region, tonnes and of CO2-
affecting (CO2) local equivalent, ecosystems compared and with
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a
the on the ecosystems issue with that iwi support and regional the more equivalent severe storms, through floods our efficiency and
world’s animal and plant life are droughts are expected, as well as
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
partners, other local authorities efforts and from forestry planting
too awful to contemplate.
rising sea-levels and increasing
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to
and central government.
across 2700 hectares.
That’s why I’m immensely threats to biodiversity.
December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and
As an organisation, we have The changing climate will pose
proud that Environment Canterbury
is part of a new regionwide on NIWA’s projections for
Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
The campaign is based
of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood
addressing our own greenhousegas
emissions,
in Canterbury. In recent years
campaign to raise
with
awareness
our
of Canterbury. These show average flow peaking at 3990 cubic hydrogen, to power our public
we have seen how occasional,
the likely and ongoing impacts
Christchurch building receiving a
temperatures rising by up to 1.5 metres per second (cumecs). transport.
but extreme, weather events have FAR
of climate change across Canterbury/Waitaha.
deg C by 2040 and 3.5 deg C by The REACHING protection EFFECTS: scheme has Climate been change When has my predecessor been seen Steve as an issue for penguins, other
“market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and wildlife
2090.
designed and to plants, defend but Christchurch it also creates Lowndes broader retired problems as chair for of society.
rating
It’s time,
of 5.0
Canterbury:
out of 6 in
Our
the year
The
infrastructure
greatest increases
around
are
the South It’s from time, a Canterbury flood of as much campaign as 6500 and reducing this council water late pollution last year, (70 he and society more broadly. Its
climate to February change on conversation
the National
expected
Island.
in those areas already adviser cumecs. Dr Jagadish Thaker of per cent). highlighted some of the big effects are far reaching.
involves Australian all Built 10 local Environment councils and affected The by driest rising parts temperatures, of our region, Massey Environment University says Canterbury’s climate Dr Thaker changes believes on the the way. low He level was
the Rating regional System council, New and Zealand. allows
The each building’s of us to features better inform include high across country. much of the Canterbury tant biosecurity by voters than programmes other matters. is also action deal may with be because the “pressing it has issues” of the Canterbury Regional
drought along the and Marlborough wildfire, such coast the and change leadership is still seen of biodiversity as less impor-
and of support optimistic for climate we would change be able to • Cr Jenny Hughey is chair
residents 184 solar about panels the which challenges, can In Plains, spite are of such expected scary to scenarios, get even In underpinned a 2020 survey by of climate-change
election traditionally climate been change seen and as an sustainability. issue Council (Environment
build generate understanding more than 55,000 and bolster I agree drier. with North-westerly the views of storms Erana are issues, concerns. climate change ranked for “penguins, I share plants, his confidence. and polar As a Canterbury)
community kilowatt hours resilience. of electricity per Riddell, predicted a mana to become whenua more repre-intensesentative
with torrential on our youth alpine rōpū, rainstorms
Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
quite low, with only 55 per cent bears”, which is the way it has
year. Environment Canterbury has
who of respondents considering it been communicated in the past.
It’s a year since Environment
shown There strong has been leadership 26% reduction says turning we shouldn’t our braided “freak rivers out,” but into an important rivers and issue, unique compared
Canterbury
wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
many challenges. The rivers form It’s important ensure we to are understand in a better place to
climate per staff change. member We in were emissions the first rather roaring make rapids, plans fuelling relative landslides to the with a healthcare vital ecological (86.5 per link cent), and provide that climate cope with change the also changing creates climate
council since 30 declared in June New 2010. Zealand We now to have facts. a climate-change and causing widespread erosion. affordable an abundant housing food (78 supply per emergency
cent) and problems and for the the tests economy, it will set health us. But
access to electric and hybrid
Canterbury’s coastal
nesting grounds for 26 species of there will always be a need to do
JENNY HUGHEY explains what
by sea-level rise this century and
vehicles and hope to have half our communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as more.
the council has been doing.
The formal declaration of a
state of climate emergency across
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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 NOW! – 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
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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 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
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Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Environment
Canterbury Chair
Jenny Hughey
*Offer available for a BLUNT Metro Umbrella for a limited time only, while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.
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,
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
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
$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
Thursday June 3 2021 The Star
OPINION 25
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 uses 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
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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