Climate Change

Climate change describes the effect of human-induced atmospheric changes on our planet. These are experienced by life on earth as wide variations in temperature resulting in more intense and frequent rainfall, droughts, storms, fires and floods. Scientists have observed that the Earth’s surface is warming, and many of the warmest years recorded have happened in the past 20 years. 

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council declared a climate emergency for the region on 26 June 2019. The declaration recognised the climate crisis as an urgent and pervasive threat to human and ecological wellbeing. A small window of time remains to act to avoid the most damaging effects of a rapidly changing climate for the longer term. Hawke’s Bay’s climate crisis declaration was one of many declarations from councils across the country, with the Government declaring a climate emergency on 2 December 2020.  

Central Government typically leads national policy and regulatory instruments to reduce and offset (mitigate) greenhouse gases, ie. the emissions trading scheme, emissions reduction plan and fuel quality regulations. Meanwhile, local government typically leads local community initiatives to reduce and offset emissions, ie. tree planting and urban passenger transport services, as well as initiatives focused on adaptation – to promote community resilience in response to a changing climate. 

 The Resource Management Act currently constrains councils' consideration of the effects of activities on climate change, such as carbon emissions. The RMA enables councils to play an active role in adapting to the effects of climate change, such as planning and regulating activities impacted by natural hazards, that are also exacerbated by climate change.  

 The Council set a goal for HBRC to be carbon neutral by 2025 and will play a leadership role in the region’s goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050. The Council also convenes a Climate Action Joint Committee, made up of councillors from HBRC, and each of the four territorial authorities, as well as Treaty partners. The focus of the Joint Committee is the promotion of actions to mitigate climate change (emissions reductions and offsetting) and adapt to the changing regional climate.

As HBRC develops the Kotahi Plan, there is an opportunity to strengthen mitigation and adaptation efforts. For example, the Kotahi plan may enable small scale renewable electricity generation, promote infrastructure that supports active transport and protects vulnerable communities, and encourage appropriate land-use management, environmental enhancement and restoration to increase regional resilience to a changing climate.

Consideration will need to be given to how to support renewable energy production, and a whether a move away from traditional forestry to carbon farming is appropriate and how this would be managed. Consideration should also be given to how HBRC’s Regional Policy Statement can instruct local councils in their own plans.  

Your Feedback

The following infographic displays what the community has told us about this catchment in our first round of engagement.  For more information read the full Kotahi Community Engagement Report here.