There is a lot of debate about climate change – in the Franklin community, between political parties in New Zealand and in the international community. Some of this debate is about whether the climate change is human-induced or not and some of the debate is about the possible impacts of climate change.
What Franklin District Council is Doing
Firstly we’re been trying to listen to your views. It is clear by listening to talk around town, hearing media reports and doing internet searches that there are a wide range of views on this topic.
Any community views on the subject of climate change issues within Franklin should be sent to the Mayor and the Chief Executive.
Council has requested officers work with a community member, Ron Howard, to investigate initiatives that aid better understanding of the climate change debate. One initial focus could involve encouraging innovative ideas from Franklin’s young people on responding to the climate change challenge. Other community members have expressed concerns about the carbon emissions from transport and the effects of population growth and highway development.
Communities for Climate Protection –New Zealand Programme
Franklin District Council has joined the Communities for Climate Protection (CCP) – New Zealand Programme which will help identify areas where savings can be made in terms of energy demand, as well as communicating the effects of activities in terms of carbon emissions.
CCP is split into two sections - corporate (Council) and community emissions. There are five milestones in each section. Milestone 1 involves creating an inventory of emissions produced. This has been completed for both sections.
We realise that for us to be credible in your eyes on this issue, we have to start with Council activities first. Therefore we have completed Milestone 2 (setting emission reduction targets) and Milestone 3 (action plan) for the corporate section. We are now implementing the action plan, which covers issues such as energy use, vehicle emissions and efficiency and things such as water pumps and office waste.
A provisional budget has been made for the 2010/11 year to progress the community section further.
There are 31 local and regional councils participating in the programme around New Zealand, covering over 80% of the population.
Other Activities
The Council has participated in the Government’s consultation process for climate change and energy policy by making submissions to the five policy documents in March 2007. Download these submissions:
As part of this process, the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association members have provided some information about the possible impacts of the climate change debate on the industry and the District.
Elected members of the Council have requested that an expert be brought in to speak about carbon footprint assessments or ‘carbon accounting policies’ – such as the idea of a cap-and-trade system of carbon emissions trading. More information about an expert forum to be held in Pukekohe will be available soon.
What Others are Doing
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Council has received information about the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). ICPP has now released its fourth comprehensive assessment of climate change. Click on the links below to read these reports. Please note that the links take you away from Franklin District Council’s website:
Of particular importance and relevance to New Zealand councils from the work of IPCC is the Working Group II Report on the expected impacts, our vulnerabilities and adapting to climate change. This report contains a chapter dedicated to the Australia/New Zealand region, which outlines the impacts on both environmental and human systems, our capacity to adapt and our vulnerabilities. It builds upon information in past IPCC reports and reflects new information and knowledge gained since the third assessment report in 2001.
Some key findings for New Zealand include:
- Impacts due to extreme weather events are likely to increase, becoming more frequent and more intense.
- In general, the climate is expected to get wetter in the West and drier in the East.
- Water security problems are very likely to increase in parts of eastern New Zealand, with projected increases in the frequency and severity of droughts
- Coastal communities are very likely to have increased risk from sea-level rise, and increases in the severity and frequency of storms and coastal flooding.
- For the first 1-2°C global temperature increase, benefits are likely in some areas e.g. improved agricultural, horticultural and forestry productivity, reduced winter illness, reduced winter energy demand, and increased hydroelectric potential.
- Scope for adaptation is large in most sectors and we must start preparing and adapting now.
- A portfolio of adaptation and mitigation measures has potential to reduce the risks from climate change impacts.
- Residual risks are likely for many natural ecosystems, water, coasts, built infrastructure.
- The resilience of some communities may be lower than others and adaptation measures need to be well-managed.
Central Government
Government released a set of discussion documents in December 2006 that address climate change as well as energy efficiency. One of the most significant proposals which would have impacts on the national and global economy is the creation of a carbon emissions trading scheme. Download a summary of the discussion papers dealing with carbon emissions trading by visiting:
Several central government departments are leading the policy development on climate change issues. Learn more about what they are doing by visiting their websites:
Regional Councils
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and Environment Waikato are both in the process of completing regional energy strategies, which is informed by the current knowledge of climate change.
Franklin District Council is part of the two regional collaboration groups for Councils involved in the CCP-NZ programme, in which useful information is shared about implementation of the programme and other climate change and energy efficiency initiatives.
The ARC is leading the development of the Auckland Sustainability Framework, in which climate change is expressed one of the strategic issues that Auckland needs to address.