The Star: July 15, 2021

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:
The
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 There actively is a special considered case to across be
councils and
late last year. The 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, There 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 The 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 The 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 These 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 The 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
The
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,
The 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
The 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
The 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 There 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 The 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 The 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
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
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.
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
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
OPINION 35
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Thursday July 15 2021 The Star
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.