Christchurch City Council declares climate emergency to protect future generations

Thursday, 23 May 2019

Climate activists cheered when the Christchurch City Council declared a climate emergency.

Climate activists young and old cheered as the Christchurch City Council took a historic decision to declare a climate and ecological emergency.

Watched by student campaigners and members of Extinction Rebellion, councillors voted to recognise the urgency of the global environmental situation and ensure the council puts climate considerations at the heart of its thinking.

The move means Christchurch joins the likes of London, Vancouver and Basel in declaring climate emergencies, committing them to greater action and recognition of the urgency for change.

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

* Environment Canterbury applauded for declaring region-wide 'climate emergency'

Christchurch City Council has declared a climate emergency, a boost for students who will strike on Friday over environmental concerns.

* Nelson declares climate emergency

* Christchurch students striking for climate again

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

The council will now ensure climate change is a key consideration in long-term planning, set a new date for Christchurch to be carbon neutral, involve the public in strategy and work closely with other cities to share ideas and solutions.

Cr Sara Templeton, who leads council efforts around climate change, said the declaration was not about 'doom and gloom' but a 'call to action'.

Thousands of young people across New Zealand have fought for action on climate change - and on Thursday Christchurch City Council listened.

'Rising seas and larger storms are already raising anxiety and hopeful action from all of us is the antidote.'

Mayor Lianne Dalziel, just back from signing an international pledge to tackle climate change in Tokyo, said there must be a 'just and equitable' transition to a low-carbon future.

'The costs will only increase if we don't take action now.'

There was applause from campaigners in the public gallery as councillors outlined their reasons for backing the declaration – and jeers for those who refused.

Councillors James Gough, David East and Aaron Keown opposed it.

Mia Sutherland, whose School Strike for Climate Action will again protest on Friday, said she felt proud and hopeful 'to be living in a city which will take responsibility and acknowledge what is happening to our world'.

Grace Stainthorpe, from Christchurch Extinction Rebellion, added: 'They're listening to the scientists … and they're listening to the people.'

Cr Vicki Buck promised that any future action would not be directed by 'top-down governance', saying: 'For this to work, everybody has to take action.'

Gough suggested the council already had strong climate change initiatives and declaring an emergency could precipitate a rates rise, while East argued that such a stance could be 'alarmist' and trigger 'hysteria' in a city that has already suffered.

Raf Manji voted in favour but argued the council should have waited until its own climate change strategy was complete before making 'drastic decisions', warning it could set up 'unrealistic and inappropriate expectations' on what the council could do.