Climate emergency on cards as city council promises to fulfill 'duty of care' to planet

Monday, 20 May 2019

Canterbury's regional council declared a climate emergency - and the Christchurch City Council followed suit.

Christchurch looks set to join a growing global movement to tackle global warming after city councillors took a major step closer to declaring a climate change and ecological emergency.

A 'business as usual' approach is 'no longer an option', and setting out such a position would raise public awareness about the urgency of the climate crisis, the authority believes.

Councillors indicated their intention around the declaration on Monday when a committee voted to recommend the council adopts the position.

Climate change campaigners are demanding authorities act on climate change to safeguard their futures - and authorities are beginning to listen.

'It is the right thing to do – we have a duty of care for our planet,' Cr Glenn Livingstone said. 'It is a clarion call and we are now into extra time.'

* Nelson declares climate emergency

* Christchurch students striking for climate again

* Climate change plan aims to make Christchurch carbon neutral ahead of 2050 target

Christchurch School Strike 4 Climate campaigners Mia Sutherland, left, and Ciara Foley, right, begged the Christchurch City Council to make policies 'to save our lives'.

* Extinction Rebellion protesters score climate change commitment in Christchurch**

Vicki Buck, who chairs the innovation and sustainable development committee, added: 'I don't think any of us can put our hand on our heart and say there isn't a climate emergency.

Students will again take to the streets of Christchurch on Friday to demand action on climate change.

'Every one of us alive, we have the ability to make a change – it is going to be the next decade that does it, and if we don't do it then the costs are massive.'

It comes after Environment Canterbury last week became the first council in New Zealand to declare a climate emergency, quickly followed by Nelson.

About 500 cities, including London, Vancouver and Basel, have already declared climate emergencies – commitment to greater action and recognition of the urgency and extent of change needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Chief among those commitments is becoming carbon neutral as quickly as possible, something the council is already working on for the city and has vowed to achieve for itself by 2030.

A declaration in Christchurch would 'raise public awareness' and 'put the spotlight on climate change impacts', councillors were told in a staff report. It would also provide a catalyst for people and organisations to respond more actively to the crisis.

Cr Vicki Buck is among those recommending the council adopt a climate emergency declaration, saying the costs of inaction are 'massive'.

Despite initiatives such as cycleways, encouraging electric vehicles and more efficient homes and businesses, 'the pace and scale of change can be regarded as insufficient and a declaration may help new momentum'.

Councillors were implored to back the declaration by campaigners Extinction Rebellion (XR) Ōtautahi and Christchurch School Strike 4 Climate, who will walk out of classes for a second time on Friday to strike at North Hagley Park as part of a global call for action.

Student Mia Sutherland told councillors: 'You have the responsibility to protect us, your citizens, from harm … the fact is, we are in danger. Climate change is not just the future, it is now.

'We beg you to lead by example – declare a climate emergency, listen to the demands of the students and create policy to save our lives.'

XR called for 'deep, broad and drastic action', urged the council to pledge to make Christchurch carbon neutral by 2025 and asked councillors to set up a 'citizens' assembly', a group of randomly selected citizens to decide how the city should respond to the climate crisis.

Voting to approve the recommendation – which will now go to full council on Thursday – Cr Anne Galloway said it was 'an opportunity to put our foot on the accelerator and get going, to unite us as a city and a region'.

Cr Jimmy Chen also gave it his backing, saying a declaration is 'crucial', while Cr Mike Davidson said the 'time for words is passed' and the council must make decisions for the 'generations who follow'.

But Cr James Gough voted against the declaration, saying it might be seen as 'fuelling a rates increase via stealth' and risked a 'dictatorial approach' when one that involves the community is needed.