Auckland Council reaffirms commitment to tackling climate change
Today Auckland Council recommitted to membership of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group with the council’s Environment and Community Committee endorsing Auckland’s reapplication for C40 affiliation.
The main component of Auckland’s application is a commitment to the aims of Deadline 2020. This report says that temperature increases must be held to a rise of no more than 1.5° Celsius to avert catastrophic climate change.
Councillor Penny Hulse, chair of the Environment and Community Committee, says the C40 report stresses that cities and nations must commit to bold and coordinated climate action in the next few years.
“All other C40 cities in the Asia-Pacific region have signed the Deadline 2020 commitment. By reapplying for C40 membership, we are acknowledging that the global conversation now accepts 1.5°C is the necessary target,” says Councillor Hulse.
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“Our commitment to C40 reiterates our pledge to tackle climate change and challenges us to work even harder to respond to our changing climate.”
The C40 Steering Committee will make a decision on Auckland’s application at their meeting on 30 November 2018 and we will be advised of their decision in December.
What does Auckland’s climate action plan look like to you?
Auckland’s Climate Action Plan, currently under development, is being significantly aided by C40 engagement. The council’s Chief Sustainability Officer, John Mauro, says that Auckland’s Climate Action Plan will comply with and help deliver the 1.5°C target.
“Auckland’s Climate Action Plan will present practical solutions for delivering a healthy, resilient, prosperous and zero carbon Auckland. By working with businesses, government, organisations, mana whenua and individuals throughout the development and implementation of the plan, we expect to deliver the necessary collaboration, innovation and solutions to address key climate challenges.
“Auckland’s Climate Action Plan will help us become more resilient to extreme weather events and sea level rise, further improve sustainable transport options, increase efforts to retrofit buildings and homes, support innovation and new technologies, expand on the greening of our urban areas and shift us to greater energy security.”
Mr Mauro encourages Aucklanders to check out climateAKL.co.nz to join the region-wide discussion for a more resilient and climate-ready Auckland.
A report outlining the initial areas of focus based on wide cross-sector engagement and modelling will be presented to the December meeting of the Environment and Community Committee.
