Transport moves on carbon
A radical new idea to make Waikato public transport carbon emissions ‘‘negative’’ by 2027 – through the likes of zero emissions vehicles, tree planting and buying offsetting credits – would be funded by ratepayers.
The cost of achieving such a goal could be between $500,000 and $900,000 a year.
The suggestion – which comes at a time of higher inflation, petrol prices and interest rates – has been included in the draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-23 and is to be discussed at the regional connections committee today.
A staff report said this reflected direction from the committee on climate change action and the desire to achieve a net negative emission outcome for Waikato public transport by 2027. The committee includes members from various Waikato councils.
The draft plan suggests two key tools for achieving that status would be regional initiatives such as tree planting and purchasing credit in carbon offset schemes.
Committee chairperson Angela Strange of Waikato Regional Council said this week that the impetus for the direction to staff was that members had ‘‘a real concern that climate action should be a highlight’’ in the plan.
Strange believed it was the first such public transport plan in the country to set a carbon negative goal.
Commenting on global warming continuing, the draft plan says ‘‘we therefore need to be carbon negative’’ to tackle the problem and that ‘‘there is an urgent need to act’’.
The draft plan suggests the costs of offsetting unavoidable emissions to achieve carbon negative status were estimated to be ‘‘less than 3% of annual public expenditure’’. The current annual operating expenditure for public transport in the region is about $30 million, so 3% equates to $900,000.
However, Strange said that 3% was ‘‘a conservative amount, it could be significantly less’’. She said it was estimated the cost could actually be between $500,000 and $900,000.
‘‘This is, of course, at this stage a concept in an aspirational plan, subject to public consultation and WRC funding and financing processes.’’
The draft plan says ‘‘actual costs would be determined following detailed emissions accounting’’.
Strange expected there would be a ‘‘prudent’’ approach taken to costs and that any credits purchased would be bought within Aotearoa.
‘‘Affordability is always at the forefront.’’
The draft plan outlines suggested steps towards public transport being net emissions neutral by 2024 and net negative by 2027.
They include a proper accounting of emissions, starting a transition to zero emissions transport (electric or other technology) from 2023, beginning offsetting by 2024 and keeping on offsetting as needed from 2027 to ensure negative status from then.
The draft plan says public transport can contribute to emissions reductions generally by reducing emissions from the modes it uses and by helping people shift out of cars on to public transport.
‘‘Once carbon negative baseline is achieved, every trip that [converts] from a private car to public transport will help amplify the reduction of emissions from transport,’’ it says.