Review of climate change, emissions

A $250,000 ‘‘rapid review’’ assessing how to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions in Dunedin is under way.

The work would be completed by September, the Dunedin City Council heard this week.

Principal policy adviser Jinty MacTavish, a former city councillor, told councillors at a meeting on Monday no progress on reducing emissions had been made since 201314.

Council community and planning group manager Nicola Pinfold said the $251,472 review had been awarded to Coffey Services (NZL) Ltd.

Teams would identify activities that could add emissions, build climate resilience or create new climate risk, she said.

‘‘The review will also seek to identify potential future activity to reduce emissions — the extent to which they are required to achieve the city’s Zero Carbon 2030 target — and to reduce climate risk and increase adaptation capacity, and prioritise these activities according to their potential impact.’’

Work to update Dunedin’s carbon footprint was due to be completed by August. Funding of $572,000 was allocated in the 202021 financial year.

Cr Lee Vandervis said he was ‘‘over the virtue signalling’’.

‘‘Statements I keep hearing around this table about how wonderful it is that we keep producing these reports, none of which have had any practical positive effect on the environment, I find quite worrying.

‘‘It’s a job creation scheme.’’

Cr Marie Laufiso asked what engagement was taking place with the agricultural industry, which produces 48.1% of Dunedin’s emissions.

Ms MacTavish said while the council was hoping to achieve a 10% reduction in biogenic methane emissions, she ‘‘wouldn’t see it as a high priority for council emphasis at this point’’.