34 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2021</strong> CONNECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH VOYAGER during <strong>July</strong> or August and we could help you disconnect with a luxury weekend away VOYAGER.NZ/CHCH | 0508 4 VOICE
since Environment Canterbury climate-change emergency 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 PROJECTS: <strong>The</strong> and enhance that work. fleet hybrid or long-range electric and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon, Canterbury IN That THE work last column included I spoke setting believing by 2022. it Carbon wouldn’t emissions make any from will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate Regional about the value of nature-based difference – that they wouldn’t up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on Council works education and engaging youth be listened to or that councillors One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai. to programme improve environmental in the Long-term Plan would are offset just do via what our they own wanted. biodiversity alongside Waimakariri River flood With biosecurity, we are outcomes 2018-28, ensuring long-term. climate change Hearing programmes. other the views of the community According is invaluable. to a Madworld It provides report protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the was <strong>The</strong>re actively is a special considered case to across be councils and late last year. <strong>The</strong> network of risks of new pests establishing community made workstreams, for youth, increasing but the reality visibility perspective in 2019, our and gross supports emissions our were floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming groups on is of that the science all Cantabrians and what can we get know decision-making. 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and initiatives involved about the to impact improve of the climate region’s I (CO2) understand equivalent, that individuals compared with $8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds such as environment. change Canterbury, <strong>The</strong>re are and a couple liaising or removals groups that of speak 7883 tonnes up can of CO2- business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a cleaning up of on ways the issue you can with do iwi this. and regional sometimes equivalent feel through like their our viewpoint efforts has and been from ignored forestry not planting <strong>The</strong> last major flood was in More broadly, we have to efficiency “super flood”. better foothold across the region. riverbanks. partners, One way other is by local just speaking authorities up about and central the things government. you care about. taken across seriously. 2700 hectares. This can leave December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and For As instance, organisation, you could we speak have them <strong>The</strong> disillusioned changing climate or disgruntled, many and risks reluctant to life to and have livelihood a say Whether Kainga making were swamped a submis-by river <strong>The</strong>se alternatives, include things such like as electricity and Don’t hesitate to get involved. will pose But of don’t Coutts stop Island having Belfast a say. and environmental find environmentally projects. suitable through in the coming weeks. directly also made to the significant council. progress in addressing Last week our a member own greenhousegas emissions, told with us her our views on <strong>The</strong> we have truth seen is that how Canterbury occasional, is council, metres contacting per second a councillor (cumecs). riverbanks, transport. protecting native of the region that we keep the of the next in time. Canterbury. In recent years sion flow on a peaking plan, presenting at 3990 cubic to planting hydrogen, initiatives, to power cleaning our up public It’s in the long-term interest community the Christchurch damage caused building to a receiving beech a large, but and extreme, each area weather has its events own have directly <strong>The</strong> or protection attending scheme a community has been plants and When animals, my predecessor and pest Steve conversation going and take the forest “market-leading” reserve by feral energy animals efficiency characteristics had huge effects and on complex residents issues infrastructure to address, so around it’s important the South is still worth something. It’s an If you’ve got a project in to shape a thriving and resilient and designed meeting, to defend your ‘two Christchurch cents’ control. Lowndes retired as chair of opportunities to work together such rating as of wallabies 5.0 out of and 6 in deer. the It’s year important to February that on we the hear National such for Island. us to hear local perspectives. from a flood of as much as 6500 this council late last year, he important contribution. If we mind that you’re passionate region. perspectives. Australian Built Environment However, <strong>The</strong> driest it also parts means of our that cumecs. highlighted some of the big region, don’t know what you think, then about, but don’t know where to Rating Last year, System we conducted New Zealand. a survey of Cantabrians that showed sometimes. Weighing up all the it can along be the a real Marlborough balancing act coast and we can’t Environment consider it. Canterbury’s changes on the way. He was start, or need expert advice or • Cr Jenny Hughey is chair <strong>The</strong> building’s features include across much of the Canterbury Another leadership way of to biodiversity get involved and is financial optimistic support, we you would can get be in able to of the Canterbury Regional just over half of residents didn’t preferences within budget and by getting biosecurity hands-on. programmes is also touch with deal with us or the go to “pressing the ‘Get issues” Council of (Environment even 184 solar know panels that they which could can have policy Plains, constraints, are expected and to with get consideration even <strong>The</strong> underpinned Canterbury by Regional climate-change Involved’ climate page change on the Environment I share his website. confidence. As a and sustainability. Canterbury) a generate say in the more work than of the 55,000 regional drier. North-westerly of social and cultural storms are Council concerns. works alongside other council. kilowatt hours of electricity per needs predicted can be to tough. become Things more need intense, councils and community groups Incidentally, we will soon be year. Of those who did know, to with be prioritised, torrential meaning alpine rainstorms Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council, It’s a year since Environment some who rivers want to and get unique stuck in wetlands to face Canterbury establishing we are a taking special some fund bold to steps to around <strong>The</strong>re two-thirds has been a had 26% not reduction participated per staff ideas turning need our to be braided put on rivers hold or into improve many a corner challenges. of Canterbury <strong>The</strong> rivers form support ensure particular we are community in a better place to declared member in any way, in with emissions many scaled a roaring back. climate-change rapids, fuelling landslides that a they vital care ecological about through emergency link and provide initiatives. cope <strong>The</strong> with details the changing will be climate since 30 June 2010. We now have and causing widespread erosion. an abundant food supply and and the tests it will set us. But access to JENNY electric HUGHEY and hybrid explains what Canterbury’s coastal nesting grounds for 26 species of by sea-level there will rise always this century be a need and to do threatened and facing increased vehicles the and council hope has to have been half doing. our communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as our more. productive and protected land <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> building’s features include 184 solar panels which can generate more than 55,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. <strong>The</strong>re 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 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Environment Canterbury Chair Jenny Hughey 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 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. <strong>The</strong> network of floodgates and stopbanks will protect half a million people and $8 billion of community and business assets from a possible “super flood”. <strong>The</strong> 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). <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> rivers form a vital ecological link and provide an abundant food supply and nesting grounds for 26 species of native birds – most classified as OPINION 35 Speak up about the things you care about Turn everyday essentials into SuperGold Find all the ways you could stretch your money further. Visit www.supergold.govt.nz or download and check the SuperGoldNZ app. SG_180x130_grocery Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> 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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