The Star: May 12, 2022

ince Environment Canterbury
climate-change emergency
Don’t let ratepayer money go up in smoke
Environment
Canterbury Chair
Jenny Hughey
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
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
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
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
Thursday May 12 2022 The Star
OPINION 27
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
SMOKE That work ON included the horizon setting is not Last by 2022. year, Carbon more than emissions 850 from
an up unfamiliar a climate-change sight in integration Canterbury.
programme in the Long-term Plan lodged are offset with via us. our Each own callout biodiversity
smoke-related air travel across complaints the organisation were
2018-28, I’ve previously ensuring written climate about change costs programmes. ratepayers about $350.
the was importance actively considered of doing across stubble It quickly According adds up, to a so Madworld we really
report
burning
workstreams,
right,
increasing
but it’s not
visibility
just a
in
want
2019,
to
our
see
gross
those
emissions
numbers
were
farming
of the science
issue.
and what we know
come
2253
down
tonnes
through
of carbon
better
dioxide
and
Many of the smoke callouts safer burning, and other ways of
about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with
our regional council (Environment
taking care of garden waste or
change
Canterbury)
on Canterbury,
staff
and
attend
liaising
rubbish.
removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
involve
on the issue
residential
with iwi
and
and
lifestyle
regional
First,
equivalent
ask yourself
through
–
our
do I
efficiency
really
blocks partners, – as other people local burn authorities rubbish, need efforts to light? and from Instead forestry of taking planting
garden and central material government. and other types a match across to 2700 those hectares. lawn clippings
of As waste an organisation, outdoors. we have and The leaves, changing why not climate use them will pose
also The made resulting significant smoke progress can be a in for many mulching? risks to And life that and pile livelihood of
real addressing hassle for our neighbours own greenhousegas
emissions, when rules with to our minimise station we have an option? seen how occasional, metres per second (cumecs). transport.
– especially
debris in Canterbury. – is taking In it to recent a transfer years
the Christchurch impact are building ignored. receiving It can a If but you extreme, do decide weather to burn events (re-havmember
had huge – your effects property on residents must and help designed disperse to smoke. defend Also, Christchurch small burning. Lowndes To report retired a burning-
as chair of fire – before taking a match
usually The have protection light winds scheme that has been found at When ecan.govt.nz/outdoor-
my predecessor Steve HAZARD: Be careful with
cause “market-leading” health irritations energy such efficiency as
itchy rating eyes of 5.0 and out scratchy of 6 in throats, the year be infrastructure larger than 2ha), around you must the South piles from with a good flood airflow of as much under as 6500 related this incident, council you late can last phone year, he to foliage decide if it is
not to February to mention smelly the National laundry visit Island. checkitsalright.nz for rules, them cumecs. are better than big ones – Environment highlighted Canterbury some of anytime
on changes 0800 765 on the 588 way. – or He phone was station, and work out if
the big better taking it to a transfer
and Australian reduced Built visibility Environment
the risks The and driest current parts conditions. of our region, they burn Environment faster and Canterbury’s
hotter with
roads. Rating System New Zealand. This along handy the Fire Marlborough and Emergency coast and less leadership smoke. of biodiversity and 111 if optimistic there’s a danger we would to people be able to your property fits within the
Some The building’s burning features is allowed include NZ across online much tool of has the details Canterbury about It’s biosecurity also good to programmes burn before is also or property. deal with the “pressing issues”
allowable
of
size.
on 184 properties solar panels larger which than can 2ha any Plains, fire restrictions are expected for to your get even night-time. underpinned Cooler by temperatures climate-change Ultimately, climate burning change and creates sustainability.
hectares, generate more but that than doesn’t 55,000 mean area, drier. as well North-westerly as information storms on are can
concerns.
make smoke sink, and pollution I share – and his I encourage confidence. As a
you kilowatt can burn hours whatever of electricity you like, per other things like wind speed and evening breezes can then take all residents to
whenever you like. Many people predicted to become more intense,
year.
it to low-lying areas where it on land It’s smaller than a 2ha year don’t Once since you have the green Environment light, can become trapped near the Canterbury
Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
There has been a 26% reduction turning our braided rivers into
we are taking some bold steps to
many challenges. The rivers form
possible.
ensure we are in a better place to
actually
per staff
realise
member
they
in
can’t
emissions
light you need to ensure you’re burning
roaring as efficiently rapids, as fuelling possible. landslides
a hazard. a vital ecological link and provide cope with the changing climate
ground, creating a nuisance and The last thing we want to see
up at all,
declared
except when cooking
a climate-change emergency
since 30 June 2010. We now have and causing widespread erosion.
is ratepayer money going up in
an abundant food supply and and the tests it will set us. But
under certain conditions.
Cloudy days are best as they The full list of rules can be smoke.
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 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 pressures due to river system
Environment
The formal declaration of a
jeopardised by the arrival and change.
state of climate emergency across
spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems
Canterbury Chair
Canterbury was one of the most
pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally,
serious, and colourful, moments
Jenny Hughey
All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming
in the regional council’s more than
to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their
30-year history.
and enhance that work.
fleet hybrid or long-range electric
and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon,
A year ago this Saturday,
That work included setting by 2022. Carbon emissions from
will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate
at 11.49am, Environment
up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation
these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on
Canterbury became New Zealand’s
One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai.
programme in the Long-term Plan are offset via our own biodiversity
first council to proclaim such an
Waimakariri River flood
With biosecurity, we are
2018-28, ensuring climate change programmes.
emergency, formally dedicating
protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the
was actively considered across According to a Madworld report
itself to consideration of climate
late last year. The network of risks of new pests establishing
workstreams, increasing visibility in 2019, our gross emissions were
change at the heart of all it does.
floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming
of the science and what we know 2253 tonnes of carbon dioxide
The declaration highlighted
protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and
about the impact of climate (CO2) equivalent, compared with
that all the work Environment
$8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds
change on Canterbury, and liaising removals of 7883 tonnes of CO2-
Canterbury does – from
business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a
on the issue with iwi and regional equivalent through our efficiency
freshwater management to
“super flood”.
better foothold across the region.
partners, other local authorities efforts and from forestry planting
biodiversity and biosecurity,
The last major flood was in More broadly, we have to
and central government.
across 2700 hectares.
transport and urban development
December 1957, when parts curb reliance on fossil fuels and
to air quality, and also regional
As an organisation, we have The changing climate will pose of Coutts Island in Belfast and find environmentally suitable
leadership – has a climate change
also made significant progress in many risks to life and livelihood Kainga were swamped by river alternatives, such as electricity and
focus.
addressing our own greenhousegas
emissions, with our
we have seen how occasional, metres per second (cumecs). transport.
in Canterbury. In recent years flow peaking at 3990 cubic hydrogen, to power our public
Currently, under the Resource
Management Act, regional Christchurch building receiving a but extreme, weather events have The protection scheme has been When my predecessor Steve
councils are required only to adapt “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and designed to defend Christchurch Lowndes retired as chair of
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 this council late last year, he
it – that responsibility is the to February on the National Island.
cumecs.
highlighted some of the big
Government’s, but could change. Australian Built Environment The driest parts of our region, Environment Canterbury’s changes on the way. He was
Even in ‘adapt mode’ many Rating System New Zealand. along the Marlborough coast and leadership of biodiversity and optimistic we would be able to
of Environment Canterbury’s The building’s features include across much of the Canterbury biosecurity programmes is also deal with the “pressing issues” of
existing policies and plans already 184 solar panels which can Plains, are expected to get even underpinned by climate-change climate change and sustainability.
contribute to reduced emissions. generate more than 55,000 drier. North-westerly storms are concerns.
I share his confidence. As a
In declaring the climate
kilowatt hours of electricity per predicted to become more intense, Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council,
emergency, the Council noted it year.
with torrential alpine rainstorms rivers and unique wetlands face we are taking some bold steps to
would continue to show leadership There has been a 26% reduction turning our braided rivers into many challenges. The rivers form ensure we are in a better place to
on climate-change and do so per staff member in emissions roaring rapids, fuelling landslides a vital ecological link and provide cope with the changing climate
without adding new programmes
at ratepayers’ expense. It also gave
staff a clear mandate to continue
since 30 June 2010. We now have
access to electric and hybrid
vehicles and hope to have half our
and causing widespread erosion.
Canterbury’s coastal
communities will be threatened
an abundant food supply and
nesting grounds for 26 species of
native birds – most classified as
and the tests it will set us. But
there will always be a need to do
more.
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