Christchurch makes bold step toward ambitious carbon emissions goals

Friday, 30 August 2019

Christchurch is a step closer to setting bold new greenhouse gas emissions targets after a group of councillors agreed the city should have a deadline of being carbon neutral by 2045.

Councillors set the date, five years ahead of the Government's own target, after being influenced by residents, businesses and community groups demanding swift action.

Cr Vicki Buck, who led the committee developing the plans, said 'knowledgeable and passionate' residents, both young and old, had called on the council to take a strong stance.

'One person said he had eight grandchildren and that he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

The appetite for action on climate change is intensifying, typified by a series of events involving young people striking from school to demand progress.

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'We face huge challenges around the impacts of climate change and we have a capacity to actually do things as a whole city.'

Earlier this week youngsters met with the committee to urge it to act to prevent runaway climate change.

Shannon Gilmore, of climate change action group Generation Zero, told them: 'It is cheaper to act now rather than delay further. Imagine if we had the opportunity to stop the earthquakes. Wouldn't you have done it? This is parallel.'

Christchurch Girls' High School Molly Smeele, 15, left, and Emma Dufty, 13, from South New Brighton School met with councillors in Christchurch on Wednesday to press for swifter action.

As well as the net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) target – which Buck had wanted set at 2040 rather than 2045 – the council will also be urged to halve GHGs by 2030 compared to 2016/17 levels.

Methane emissions will have to fall by 50 per cent by 2045 under the plans, and by 25 per cent over the next decade.

Goals will be revised every three years and the target dates potentially brought forward at any time.

The proposals are expected to be put to the full council over the coming month.

If approved, the public and businesses will be encouraged to adopt climate-friendly behaviours and residents will be kept up to speed with progress.

Transport is the largest contributor to Christchurch's emissions, contributing more than half, followed by energy used in buildings and infrastructure, which account for 22 per cent.

Under the proposals, the district plan could be changed to require more sustainable and efficient buildings, and fresh conversations about the council controlling public transport could be on the horizon.

Council-owned land may also be used for planting to offset carbon emissions, and council suppliers could face pressure to reduce their own GHGs and be more efficient.

The council itself aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, and council-owned companies would also have to comply.

Councillor Vicki Buck is pushing for the local authority to introduce carbon neutral targets of 2045 for Christchurch.

Speaking after the finishing touches were put to the plans on Friday, Buck said more than 150 people who put forward their views had wanted the council to be more ambitious.

'They were telling us to go faster than the Government, because they thought that created a massive amount of opportunities for Christchurch as well.

Transport is responsible for most emissions in Christchurch; in March Red Bus introduced three electric buses to serve the route between central Christchurch and the airport.

'I think Copenhagen is aiming for 2025 to be net carbon neutral as a city, so we are not at the leading edge of this at all.

'We have a carbon footprint each of 6.6 tonnes in Christchurch, most of that is transport. There are solutions and we can solve this.

Governments around the world continue to disappoint on climate change, Buck said.

'I just think it's going to be up to cities to take the lead.

'I don't think there's a more important challenge. It's something that has to be done quickly, we don't have the time to muck around.'

The council is developing an umbrella strategy for climate change planning, focusing on adaptation and mitigation.

It will involve businesses and the community to inform thinking on climate change and then find ways of putting that into action.