Climate Change
He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao
The world’s climate is changing, largely because of the build-up in the earth’s atmosphere of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. New Zealand and the Hauraki district are already experiencing the effects of climate change with rising sea levels, increased time spent in drought and when it does rain, we get a lot of it in a single event. The major risks posed by climate change not only include risks to the natural and built environment, but also to social cohesion and community wellbeing.
If the world acts quickly to reduce emissions then we can reduce the degree that the climate does change and we may not have to adapt as much – but that’s a work in progress. This uncertainty means we also need to start preparing for how we will adapt to the effects of climate change.
Here's what we’re doing to play our part.
Climate Change Mitigation – reducing and offsetting our emissions
We jointly commissioned the first greenhouse gas inventory for the Hauraki District for the year 2018/2019 with the Waikato Regional Council. The second inventory covers the 2021/22 year. Undertaking an inventory every three years allows for monitoring and the tracking of emissions trends to inform policy decisions. We’ve also undertaken an inventory of our organisational emissions.
On 30 June 2021 we adopted our Zero Carbon Promise which sets out how we will work toward achieving our goal to reduce or offset more of our organisational greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to creating a zero carbon district.
You can view the Waikato Regional greenhouse gas inventories on the Waikato Regional Council website: Waikato regional greenhouse gas inventory | Waikato Regional Council
Climate Change Adaptation
We’re working with some of our more at risk communities to start planning for the effects of climate change. We have been using an adaptive planning approach for two key community planning projects we have been rolling out, along the Wharekawa Coast and on the Hauraki Plains. This community-led process will result in a plan for each area laying out how we’ll respond to natural hazard risks in the future, recognising what we know about these risks may change 10, 20 and 100 years down the track.
The Wharekawa Coast Community Plan was adopted at the end of 2023, and commits to future actions from our Council, and the regional council. Find out more on the project website: Wharekawa Coast 2120 – Looking Ahead (hauraki-dc.govt.nz).
You can read the plan here: Wharekawa Coast 2120 Community Plan.pdf (hauraki-dc.govt.nz)
The Hauraki Plains Adaptation Planning project is in the early stages, and we are still gathering and preparing information about the project area. There is lots of work to come over the next three years in the form of community engagement and hazard and risk assessments to find out more about the natural hazards on the Plains. You can find out more on the project website here: Hauraki Plains Adaptation Plan (arcgis.com)
When we’re making decisions, we’re also taking into account the potential effects of climate change on our assets. There’s more about the impacts of climate change on our infrastructure under our Infrastructure Strategy section in our Long Term Plan.
National Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Emissions Reduction Plan:
New Zealand now has its first climate change adaptation plan. This sets out Government-led policies, strategies and proposals to aid New Zealanders in adapting to the changing climate and its effects.
National adaptation plan | Ministry for the Environment
New Zealand also has an emissions reduction plan that lays out targets and actions to meet those targets.
Aotearoa New Zealand's first emissions reduction plan | Ministry for the Environment
The government has also recently developed a climate change strategy, which sets out the approach to how it will deliver on New Zealand’s climate goals.
The Government’s climate strategy | Ministry for the Environment (cwp.govt.nz)
