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CCP-NZ – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2008

Communities for Climate Protection^® - New Zealand (CCP^®-NZ): A New Zealand Government initiative delivered by ICLEI Oceania. This Programme is part of ICLEI’s international Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. Visit the CCP-NZ website for more information about the Programme.

CCP-NZ PROGRAMME NEWS

Participation and milestone achievements

There are currently 33 council participants in CCP-NZ, representing over 82% of New Zealand’s population.

Waitakere City and Hamilton City Councils have become the first CCP-NZ Programme participants to pass Milestone 4. Congratulations!!

Congratulations also to Auckland City, Waipa District, Far North District, Porirua City Councils for completing Milestone 1, and to New Plymouth District Council for completing Milestone 2.

Climate protection goals and plans going mainstream

It is a busy time for council staff as all New Zealand councils begin the process of drafting and consulting on their updated Long Term Council Community Plans (LTCCP).

The challenge for councils is to reflect community aspirations and draft a plan that supports and encourages their community to progress to a more sustainable and resilient future.

We cannot be certain what the future holds for our country or the world, but the potential for climate change to bring damaging impacts on our communities means that innovative local government leadership is essential.

Community climate protection goals and plans inevitably form a significant element of achieving those desires for a sustainable future.

CCP-NZ staff are encouraging councils to consider merging, or even re-writing and strengthening, their Milestone 2 Goals and Milestone 3 Action Plans as part of council LTCCP documents.

Some councils, as a part of their consultation process, are planning discussion sessions on climate change and sustainability topics with interested businesses, NGOs and community members.

There are many CCP-NZ resources and ideas on the ICLEI Oceania website that could assist councils with bottom-up climate action community-council partnership ideas.

AMCCP discusses local government carbon neutrality

All New Zealand mayors and regional council chairs were invited to a breakfast briefing on carbon neutrality during the Local Government New Zealand 2008 conference on 30 July 2008.

The New Zealand coordinating group for the Australasian Mayors Council for Climate Protection (AMCCP) facilitated a conversation on the Framing Carbon Neutrality discussion paper.

A global standard on carbon neutrality for local government has not yet been developed, so the ICLEI Oceania discussion paper on producing a carbon neutral protocol was warmly welcomed by the mayors, chairs and council officers present.

There was general agreement that the approach described in the paper was a clear and useful explanation of the issues, was consistent with the proposed policies, and its principles would be appropriate for councils planning to become carbon neutral.

A summary of comments and other direct feedback has been reviewed by the AMCCP New Zealand coordinators.

The AMCCP meeting also briefly discussed other climate protection issues –such as the coordination of adaptation programmes and the need for increased focus on climate change issues – that would benefit from a strong local government leadership.

The Framing Carbon Neutrality discussion paper has been sent to all New Zealand councils.

For more information about the AMCCP New Zealand coordination, contact Diana Shand CCP-NZ National Programme Manager, Ph: +64(0) 4 471 1989.

Recognition event recap

We seized the opportunity at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Rotorua to congratulate 11 CCP-NZ participating councils on their progress in the Programme.

A CCP-NZ Recognition Event was held on 29 July 2008 at the Millennium Hotel, with Minister for the Environment, Hon Trevor Mallard, giving the keynote presentation and awards.

Those giving the council responses related some inspiring achievements. Please see the CCP-NZ events webpage for details and a group photo of the Minister with councils that received awards.

: New Plymouth District Council’s Deputy Mayor Alex Matheson accepts the award for achieving Milestone 2 in CCP-NZ

: Mayor Jenny Brash receives Milestone 1 on behalf of Porirua City Council

CCP-NZ COUNCILS IN ACTION

First CCP-NZ councils to complete Milestone 4

Waitakere City Council is the first CCP-NZ council to complete Milestone 4.

The council implemented a large range of local actions to reduce emissions, including replacing 42 of their fleet vehicles with more efficient ones, making changes to the heating and energy generation systems at the Aquatic Centre, and installing solar walkway light tiles in Cranwell Park and along some cycle ways.

There will be more information on the Waitakere projects in a future issue of the Bulletin.

Hamilton City Council has also completed Milestone 4. Remarkably, the council has undertaken over 50 emission reduction projects undertaken since their 2001 base year. Most of these projects have ongoing energy, cost and emissions savings.

Projects include modifications to the plant nursery heating system, installation of an electricity generation plant using landfill gas from the rubbish tip and the installation of energy efficient technologies in the emergency management centre.

One successful cost and emissions saving project was modifications to Hamilton City’s Waterworld 25-metre pool pumping and filtration system, including the installation of new, smaller, variable-speed-drive pumps and smart controls.

: Bathers enjoying the higher quality of water in the 25m pool at Hamilton’s Waterworld

: Brent Ardern, Leisure Facilities Technical Officer, with one of the new efficient pumps at Hamilton’s Waterworld

The highly efficient new pumps use less power while also halving the time required to purify the whole pool. Water quality has greatly improved, and more rapidly after high use periods.

This new system reduced annual electricity costs from $7000 to $2700 and saves more than 11 tonnes of CO2 per year. The cost of this project will be recovered from the energy savings in around two years.

The project was such a success that Hamilton City Council has extended the action to its other pools.

Street Lighting Workshop

24 September 2008, Waitakere City

Waitakere City Council and Modus Lighting are hosting an “Advancing New Zealand's Street Lighting Technologies” event on 24 September 2008 at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson.

Councils are invited to see some of the latest street lighting technologies, learn about the benefits and meet suppliers.

Aiming to reduce energy consumption while maintaining public safety, this event is targeted at all key players in installing, managing, maintaining or influencing the state of NZ’s street lighting, including street lighting engineers and technology providers, transport policy, developers, central government agencies and contractors.

RSVP by 15 September 2008 to Michelle Dawson, Ph: +64 (0)9 836 8000, ext. 8539.

Recycling in Kapiti

Kapiti Coast District Council has recently implemented a new kerbside recycling service for residents. About 22,000 recycling bins have been distributed to residents, making it easier for them to make a major contribution to the environment by diverting rubbish from landfills.

Climate Change Local Action Plan proposal for Nelson

Nelson City’s first ever Climate Change Local Action Plan proposal was made public for feedback and received over 90 submissions. Council has summarised the submissions and conducted a public hearing, and is considering changes to the Action Plan based on the feedback received.

NEW ZEALAND CLIMATE NEWS

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour 2008 had over 50 million people around the world turn off their lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change.

An internationally supported World Wildlife Fund campaign, Earth Hour developed partnerships with cities and communities to help make a difference. Last year, Christchurch City Council was the New Zealand partner city and 63% of the population participated, resulting in a 12.5% energy reduction.

You are encouraged to talk to your council mayor, CEO, councillors and staff to get them involved in next year’s event on 28 March 2009.

Communities should register their interest in participation by 30 September 2008 to be involved from the beginning of the 2009 campaign.

For further information visit the Earth Hour website or contact the New Zealand Earth Hour Director, Dairne Poole, Ph: +64 (0)27 212 3103.

The future of gas

In his address to the Gas Industry Company conference on 8 August 2008 in Wellington, Minister Parker confirmed the New Zealand Government’s support for the global acceptance that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced.

He reiterated the NZ Energy Strategy released last October has a target to have 90% of New Zealand’s electricity being derived from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Commuting by Bicycle made easy

Central Auckland now has a safe and convenient one-stop-shop for cyclist commuters.

Bike Central offers safe storage, showers, personal lockers, wireless internet, a café and more, all for a small membership fee!

Commuting by bicycle has never been so easy.

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