Climate Change Action Plan
Submissions hearing 14 August 2008
The feedback period for the Climate Change Action Plan closed on 1 July with more than 90 submitters taking part.
Council is preparing a report summarising the submissions and providing recommendations.
The hearing of submissions will take place at 9.00am on Thursday 14 August in the Council Chamber.
Councillors will then consider the written and verbal submissions and make decisions on changes to the action plan based on that feedback. All submitters will be advised of the outcomes of those decisions.
The Local Action Plan
Nelson City Council is a member of the Communities for Climate Protection (CCP-NZ) programme.
The CCP-NZ programme requires member communities to produce a Local Action Plan - a blueprint of actions spanning all areas of Council policy and decisions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Nelson. Council is seeking your views on its draft plan.
On this web page you can read a summary of the document and/or download the full document.
Read more about Council's membership in the Communities for Climate Protection programme.
Download the full Nelson City Council Local Action Plan for CCP-NZ (PDF @ 210KB).
Local Action Plan Summary
Message from the Mayor
I am pleased to introduce Nelson’s first ever Climate Change Action Plan.
As one of 27 out of 86 Councils that have joined the Climate Change Protection Programme, Nelson City Council has shown its level of recognition and commitment to planning for the future.
This Action Plan is a blueprint for Council to apply across all areas of policy and decisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our city.
However, it is important that we all make this commitment to the future of our environment together. The plan signals to the community that Council is serious about sustainability and is trying to make this practice as easy as possible for residents.
Council can assist with simple measures, such as waiving building consent fees to install solar water heating, to help residents reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The issue of climate protection is one not just for the people of Nelson, but the global village of our planet.
By putting the Action Plan in place, our city is signalling we are not just aware of climate change, but are actively planning to help reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby ensuring a safer future for all.
I hope you will take time to read about our plans for the future, and to have your say on the direction we are taking.
Kerry Marshall
Mayor of Nelson
CCP programme goals
Nelson has a history of being a socially active and concerned community. Joining the Communities for Climate Protection (CCP-NZ) programme gives us a framework for reducing emissions alongside other councils in New Zealand and around the world. CCP-NZ helps councils to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as:
- saving energy and promoting renewable energy
- increasing sustainable transport
- enhancing urban design
- reducing emissions from landfills
- supporting adoption of low-carbon technology.
This lines up with Government policy and a broad range of national strategies on these same issues. New Zealand and most other developed countries have signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. Negotiations for how the world will reduce emissions beyond 2012 have begun.
Making changes first at Council
Like any plans for change it’s wise to get our own patch in order first. Council’s Local Action
Plan focuses on what it can do better, then looks at how it can make it easier for the community to make changes at work and home.
Actions for year one
The actions for the 2008/09 year are low cost and set the direction for the future. They include
- making emission reductions a goal in Council management decisions and plans wherever practical,
- making advice available to residents and industries about resource efficiency,
- removing building consent fees for solar hot water heating, and
- increasing waste minimisation and composting.
There needs to be more investigation into some actions to establish their costs and benefits. For some longer term actions, such as widespread replacement of street lights, there are barriers such as technology and cost which are likely to be removed in the future.
All actions included in this plan are intended to be:
- focused on reducing eCO2 (carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes)
- affordable, cost-effective and have other benefits (such as energy savings)
- supportive of partnerships between spheres of government, business and the community
- equitable and meet the needs of the whole community.
Setting long-term targets
Setting a target of stabilising emissions by 2012 provides an immediate focus. The 2020 target of a 40% reduction from the baseline levels is more aspirational and takes account of the level of emission reductions recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Nelson targets are similar to those set by other CCP-NZ councils.
The targets are voluntary and there is no penalty to the Council or the community of failing to meet them. Significant changes will be required for the targets to be achieved, and the current proposed actions are only a step in the right direction.
Measuring present and goal CO2 emissions
The local action plan begins with an inventory of Nelson’s emissions. Most emissions are from the use of fossil fuels, electricity, or methane emissions from waste. The unit of measure used in the inventory is eCO2 or carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes. For example, one tonne of methane has the same effect as 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Council Emissions
Nelson City Council activities resulted in 1,096 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2004. These emissions are forecast to increase to 1,461 tonnes in 2010, an increase of 33%. A large increase in the water/sewerage emissions category is due to electricity usage with the Tantragee water treatment plant coming on line. It was not active during the 2004 base year and now accounts for around twenty percent of all Council emissions.
Community Emissions
The community’s activities resulted in 400,534 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2001, with the fishing industry and passenger vehicles being the largest sources of local emissions. If no significant changes are made, Nelson emissions are forecast to be 413,010 tonnes by 2010, an increase of 3%. The reduction in waste emissions is due to methane capture at the landfill. The forecast reduction in emissions from the industrial sector is largely due to the national trend of a shrinking manufacturing and industrial base. The increase in the transport sector is based on Ministry of Transport forecasts of vehicle kilometres travelled.
Existing Council Actions
Leadership/corporate policy
A Council Sustainability Policy is proposed for adoption in 2008. Its purpose is to ensure sustainability is taken into account in all Council decisions, strategies, plans and actions.
Water supply
Water metering, optimising infrastructure to minimise pump use, and 'use water wisely' publicity in summer months.
Sewerage system
Optimise use of infrastructure, existing oxidation ponds at waste water treatment plant, asset management plans include energy use and efficiency when making decisions on upgrades.
Streetlights
Trial use of solar studs to light walkways and cycleways and installing more energy efficient streetlights.
Council facilities
Saxton Field Stadium has efficient heating, and its reserve management plan includes sustainability principles; community houses are insulated, as is the Trafalgar Centre.
Staff transport
Fuel efficiency is always considered for purchase of council fleet vehicles, bikes for staff transport are available and cycling to work is encouraged, air travel needs are monitored including for training.
Waste
In-house recycling scheme reduces waste at Civic House and recycling facilities at Council events and in main streets is in place.
New Council Actions
Leadership/corporate policy
Commitment and various activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, investigate option for Council to manage an emissions trading scheme for the region.
Water supply
Investigate hydro-generation for delivery of water to the treatment plant.
Sewerage system
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in the long term investigate opportunities for methane capture and use.
Streetlights
Consider progressive replacement of energy inefficient streetlights, monitor changes in technology, and consider changing to LED traffic lights.
Council facilities
Consider installing solar water heating for all Council facilities, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in design and building of new facilities, and making new Council buildings eco-buildings. Investigate the feasibility of changing Civic House's main energy source to electricity.
Staff transport
Encourage staff to limit travelling to work by car and consider providing incentives/disincentives and rewards for staff and Councillors to use active transport.
Waste
Make recycling a condition for using or leasing Council facilities or reserves.
Land management
Investigate opportunities for carbon sequestration and carbon credits.
Existing Community Actions
Transport
Schemes such as The Bus, carpooling, the cycle strategy and the Active Transport Forum.
Waste
Methane capture at the landfill, kerbside recycling, business and schools waste minimisation programmes, composting of green waste at the recycling station.
Residential Sector
Water and energy conservatoin and composting are promoted through programmes and activites such as the annual Ecofest.
New Community Actions
Industrial/commercial sectors
Encourage businesses to conserve water, have energy audits, provide assistance to the Sustainable Business Network, monitor industry emissions, and promote sustainable business through awards.
Transport
Travel demand management, public transport and cycle way initiatives. Look for opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the review of the Transport Asset Management Plan.
Waste
More waste minimisation initiatives, review the charging policy for green waste disposal, encourage waste minimisation in building activities and work with retailers to promote use of reusable bags.
Residential sector
Encourage solar water heating and resource efficiency by waiving the building consent fees, establish an eco-design advisor for Nelson to provide free advice, encourage energy efficient intensive housing near town centres and encourage the growing of vegetables and fruit in home and community gardens.
Download the CCP-NZ Local Action Plan
Download the full Nelson City Council Local Action Plan for CCP-NZ (PDF @ 210KB).
Contact
For more information, please call or email Senior Policy Planner on +64 3 546 0375. |
