Auckland set to decide on tougher global warming moves

Saturday, 10 November 2018

Auckland Council has to decide next week whether to remain in a global climate change group, and back tougher action.

It is part of the C40 group of 96 cities which is committed to ensuring the planet warms by no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius long term.

If Auckland opts to sign-up again, it will be the only Asia Pacific member city without an action plan to reach the target.

'It should sign, and the 1.5 degree limit out to be the target,' Gary Taylor said, the executive director of the Environmental Defence Society.

**READ MORE:

* Council blames traffic for missing Auckland air pollution targets

* Auckland air pollution worst in NZ

* Air pollution is higher on ships than city centres

* Pigeons with tiny backpacks are measuring air pollution in London**

It was not clear yet what carbon-reducing initiatives would flow from re-committing to C40.

The council was working on Auckland's Climate Action Plan, which would be considered next month, after canvassing ideas with sector and community groups.

'The reality with that plan is, it's doing harder stuff, sooner,' Penny Hulse said, the chair of the Environment and Community committee leading the work.

The action plan would be expected to deliver a reduction of emissions big enough to fit the trend needed to cap global warming to the 1.5C target.

'Yes, it would be signing up to a stretch target, but also to working with other cities who are in exactly the same situation,' Hulse said.

Auckland Council research has highlighted some areas that need to improve.

In a study of industrial pollution, one measure of particles called PM10 was found to have declined by only 35 per cent over a decade, missing the 50 per cent target set in the 2012 Auckland Plan.

A study of air pollution in downtown Queen Street found that after a long period of improvement, the trend had worsened, especially for harmful ultra-fine particles known as black carbon, from diesel engines.

Levels were double those of major European and North American cities.

Transport is a major contributor of Auckland's climate-changing greenhouse gases, and already a target.

'I think probably the one thing that is being done, a very good sign, is the recent change in emphasis on public transport, and … light rail in particular,' Taylor told Stuff.

The Government has committed to two electric light rail lines from the downtown area, one to Mt Roskill and on to Mangere, and the other to the northwest, to reduce bus and car use.

Recent arrivals such as rental electric scooters, are also identified as areas for attention.

'A key challenge to the council is to keep up with what's going to be a rapidly evolving set of new or improved technologies that are going to allow us to get around town with lower emissions,' Taylor said.

'This is the biggest population centre in our small country and obviously what happens here is going to be important - not as important as in rural New Zealand of course because of our unique profile, but here there are certainly things that can be done,' he said.

Auckland was already committed from 2025 to buying only Zero Emission buses, but that was the kind of policy that might be advanced.

Council staff were recommending staying in C40, and said membership had already helped in areas such as starting to develop an action plan.

C40 has produced it's own report Destination 2020 on how cities may need to act to deliver the global Paris agreement on curbing climate change.

'The overriding and deeply significant finding of the work is that the next four years will determine whether or not the world's megacities can deliver their part of the ambition of the Paris Agreement,' the C40 report said.

'Without action by cities the Paris Agreement can not realistically be delivered.'