Kia ora <<First name>>
We’re back with another update from It’s time, Canterbury, a roundup of some of the climate change-related going’s on from around Waitaha.
Times have moved on from discussions of whether climate change is going to have an impact here. With rises in sea level locked in for the future, we’re inspired to hear of coastal conversations happening with communities around the region.
There’s a lot happening to reduce transport emissions too, with game-changing options being put to the communities in greater Christchurch and Timaru, and agreement on future zero emissions zones in central Christchurch.
There’s more inspiration from both our business sector and young people determined to do good by the environment with some refreshing tales from the good folk at Three Boys Brewery and youth representative Erana Riddell.
Settle in and have a read, and remember to have your say on climate change issues in your backyard. |
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Coastal conversations
Around Canterbury, the coastal environment is changing. Although the impacts of climate change can be hard to see in some places, it is time to think about and plan for the future.
Hurunui
Hurunui District Council is carrying out a project called Coastal Conversations with its five beach communities, around the topic of sea level rise. Working together, the idea is to create a plan for how those communities may adapt to living at the coast in future.
It’s early days for the community, with meetings being held to gather and share scientific information, community feedback and ideas. |
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Christchurch and Banks Peninsula
Christchurch City Council is asking residents to provide early feedback on how land use should be managed in areas exposed to coastal hazards. Consultation includes an Issues and Options paper – the first step in the Coastal Hazards Plan Change – and the Coastal Adaptation Framework – which proposes how the council will work with communities to reduce current and future coastal hazards risk.
“The Coastal Hazards Assessment looks at how our coastal and low-lying areas of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula might be affected by coastal flooding, erosion and groundwater - and how this might change over time with sea level rise,” said Council’s General Manager of Infrastructure, Planning and Regulatory Services Jane Davis.
“We need to start adaptation planning now because sea level rise of at least 30 cm over the next 30 years is expected. Even if emissions are reduced, it is virtually certain that sea level will continue to rise beyond 2100,” said Ms Davis.
Christchurch’s coastal hazards consultation is open for feedback until 15 November.
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Game changing public transport options
Environment Canterbury will be taking potential game-changing options to the community, to stimulate its public transport system and reduce transport emissions.
“We are in a climate emergency. We all know this, and action needs to be taken now to reduce emissions. One of the key levers we have to do this is to reduce transport emissions – and getting people out of their cars and on to public transport or other modes is key,” said Chair Jenny Hughey.
“We want to encourage the people of Greater Christchurch and Timaru to do their bit to reduce emissions and start to move the dial on our transport emissions,” she said.
Environment Canterbury will increase eligibility for the child fare to include 18-year-olds, with an undertaking to have it in place before the start of the new school year.
In the new year, consultation will begin on further options to encourage more people on board. These will include considering reduced fares for tertiary students; free fares for under 25s, students, and community card holders; and in Christchurch, creating a larger, single zone with a universal $2 or $3 fare.
By engaging with the community on these options, and their impact on rates, Environment Canterbury will gauge community interest ahead of determining the 2022/23 Annual Plan. |
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Can you and I make a difference?
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As Chairperson of He Pou Rangi, the Climate Change Commission, Dr Rod Carr frequently gets asked about the difference everyday New Zealanders can make.
When he visited us recently, we asked him the same question, and found his response pretty motivating. |
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Sustainability as simply good business
Brigid Casey and Ralph Bungard have taken Three Boys Brewery from an age when craft beer was a “hard sell”, to an era where independent breweries are the go-to choice for many. Today, their venture retains its firm beliefs that sustainability should be integral to any business in today’s world.
Coming from a background in environmental management, Brigid believes all businesses have a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact – not just the ‘dirty’ industries.
“Environmental sustainability is hugely important to us. We actually do give a toss! Reducing, reusing, recycling, repurposing, minimising packaging, dropping single use plastics, treating our effluent, measuring our carbon, sending our used grain for farm feed, using local suppliers and spurning diesel boilers for all of our brewing - we do all of those things and we do them well,” she said.
“We think it is weird that ‘sustainability’ is still even a concept that has to be discussed as a separate part of a business – it should be integral to the running of any business. Why wouldn’t every business be doing everything in their power to minimise their impact on our environment!”
However, Brigid believes that small, local sustainable businesses cannot compete on cost with less scrupulous suppliers, and it’s even more difficult, she says, with multi-nationals that don’t have a genuine vested interest in community or environment.
“It has to become unacceptable to simply ring-fence your organisation and call it green. Real, extra, and tangible value needs to be put on sustainable businesses, and real and tangible cost put on those that are not,” she said.
Do you know of a sustainable business doing fantastic mahi in Canterbury? Let us know! |
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Listening to our past
Young people today are growing up in a world far different from our ancestors. Erana Riddell, a law student and member of Environment Canterbury’s Youth Rōpū, is one of a growing number of young Kiwis getting involved with local government to make a difference for the planet.
“Climate change doesn’t just bother us, it frightens us immensely because the impact it’s already having will be present for the rest of our lives,” she said.
Erana believes communities need the grass roots commitment of the population combined with top-down leadership of Government and councils to find local solutions.
“There is hope. People around the globe, having doubted climate change, then feared it, are now taking positive action,” she said.
Erana believes that looking to our past will help us to move forward.
“It’s about recognising what’s good for Māori is actually good for the world. And creating opportunities for this knowledge to be understood and used in mainstream society, such as by using Mātauranga Māori alongside science to mitigate the effects of climate change,” she said.
“The It’s time, Canterbury work is helping everyone get up to speed with the projected risks and impacts of climate change here in Waitaha, as well as learning about what we can do about it as individuals.
Through this kaupapa, we’re on the path to acknowledging and adapting to the reality that the climate is changing whether we like it or not, and that we need to change alongside with it,” said Erana. |
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Seven important global highlights
The United Nations’ UN News has put together a list of the seven most important climate action-related highlights from around the world. It’s a surprisingly inspiring read. |
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Easy ways to live a carbon conscious lifestyle
Sometimes, hearing big statistics can be overwhelming. The Climate Change Commission tells us we need to cut 5.4m tonnes of emissions annually for the next four years, compared to 2019, if we’re to meet our shrinking carbon budget.
We all know the importance of change, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. But it’s the little things that can add up to make a real difference too, and each of us can have an impact.
We’ve put together our favourite resources for living carbon conscious. |
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IPCC confirms unequivocal human influence
The IPCC’s most recent report on The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change was released on 9 August 2021 and marks a line in the sand for climate change. It shows us the current state of the climate, how humans have affected it and how it might continue to change in the future. There are important advances in our understanding of the role of climate change in extreme weather events, the irreversibility of some changes we’re already seeing, and the projected timing of crossing 1.5 and 2°C thresholds.
Visit the EnviroVisuals website to view the graphic full size, an excellent summary created for the IPCC AR6 Working Group. |
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Zero emission zones for Christchurch?
Christchurch will join ‘Race to Zero’, a United Nations-linked climate change initiative that could lead to parts of the city becoming ‘zero emission zones’, meaning no petrol-guzzling cars, by 2025.
"Transport accounts for a significant portion of our carbon emissions so we know we need to change the way people move around if we are to achieve our goal of Christchurch being carbon neutral by 2045,’’ said Councillor Sara Templeton.
Christchurch City Council has chosen to commit to expanding and improving walking, cycling and integrated transport access and identifying potential areas for future zero emission zones by 2025.
Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, has five of these zones already and Auckland intends to make its city centre a zone too. |
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Focus on sustainability action in Selwyn
The Selwyn District Council has created a new full-time position to lead its sustainability action programme.
Appointment of the Council’s first sustainability lead will put sustainability at the heart of its work, developing and executing the Council’s Sustainability vision, strategy and annual plan. This role will oversee sustainable practices across the Council itself, developing capability and championing change, as Selwyn adapts not only to climate change, but to a broader focus on the environment and community.
Council Chief Executive David Ward said the appointment is a big step forward for the Council in its work.
“The challenges and opportunities that sustainable action brings are too big to be another bit part role of people’s day to day jobs. It needed a focus and that’s what we’re giving it as one of the first Councils in Canterbury to have a full time senior staff member dedicated to the role. This job will have a mandate to drive change and help us move farther and faster and keep focus on this challenge,” he said. |
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Upcoming events
Christchurch Conversations is a programme of free events that invites local and international thought-leaders to inspire and challenge us on our future.
These events will be subject to any Covid-19 guidelines in place at the time, and will also be live streamed on YouTube. |
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15-minute neighbourhoods
Saturday 6 November, 1.30 – 3pm
Tūranga Library, Christchurch
What if you could get everything you need for daily living within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from home? How would that change your life? Could reducing short car trips save the planet? This event explores the idea of Christchurch as a city of 15-minute neighbourhoods. |
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Moving around a 21st century city
Sunday 7 November, 1 – 4 pm
Tūranga Library, Christchurch
Hear about different transport options and the role of government and councils in making our travel clean, easy and fair.
Check out EVs, scooters, bikes, buses, and talk to local users about how they get around the city. |
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| The Climate Commission is holding an international speaker series via free Zoom sessions |
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Clean energy in the transition to net zero
Tuesday 12 October, 8 – 9pm
Join internationally renowned energy economist Michael Liebreich, along with Chief Executive Jo Hendy, to explore the past, present and future of the global transition to clean energy, and opportunities for Aotearoa in this space. |
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The shift towards emissions-free transportation
Thursday 28 October, 6.30 – 7.30pm
Join Monica Araya, along with Commissioners Dr Judy Lawrence and Professor James Renwick, for a session on the future of mobility and the role of transport in the global transition to low emissions. |
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Share your commitment
Thanks for being involved in Canterbury’s climate change conversation. That’s it from us this spring.
Do you have friends and whānau you’d like to share this information with?
Share the It’s time, Canterbury website with them and ask them to sign up to stay in touch too.
We love hearing from you. Drop us an email anytime!
Mā te wā
The team at It’s time, Canterbury |
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