Council aims to halve city emissions

Auckland will have to cut carbon emissions by 50 per cent over the next 10 years, according to a new proposal adopted by Auckland Council. Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Councillor Richard Hills said the unanimous decision was “kind of phenomenal”.

Several councillors worried that council had been moving too slowly.

“We do the words but what about the actions?” said councillor Cathy Casey. She was angry council had allowed Auckland Transport (AT) to “delay for another year” the first trial to reduce cars on Queen St.

Councillor John Watson said Auckland Council could look overseas for lessons on how to lead on climate change. He cited Scotland, which decided 11 years ago to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2020.

Cutting emissions by 50 per cent will have major implications for industry, agriculture, coastal land, consumer life and especially transport, which alone is responsible for 40 per cent of Auckland’s carbon emissions.

Councillor Chris Darby said the goals were all very well but, “I want to remind councillors that for two years AT has been telling us it has a very lean operational budget. It’s down to zilch.”

Hills commented later that the crunch will come when council debates a new 10-year budget, or long-term plan (LTP), a process that will start this year. “The LTP has to show we mean business,” he said.

Mayor Phil Goff called the proposal “huge, life-changing and lifestyle changing”.

“But do we have a choice? No we don’t, unless we want to leave a rotten future to our mokopuna.”

Goff wanted more electrification of transort, mode shift to public transport and ride sharing. “We will need at least 33 per cent of the city’s vehicle fleet to have zero emissions. Currently it’s not even at 1 per cent.”

He also warned about the cost. “What’s it going to cost and how are we going to pay for it? We can give the big speeches but business so far is not doing a hell of a lot. And the biggest change has to come from central Government.”

Councillor Pippa Coom reminded councillors that “the consensus on climate change science is settled”, which meant their debate now had to be about how to respond.

The proposals came in a report on the council’s Climate Action Framework, which was approved in draft form last year and has been out for public consultation. The report also proposed the framework be renamed the Auckland Climate Plan.

The plan, with specific proposals for action, will be reported back in May.