Action plan to support the declaration of a Climate Emergency 
 
OVERALL 
 
1.  Establish appropriate governance arrangements for climate change 
 
2.  Support decision making and policy development by including robust analysis of climate change 
impacts 
 
3.  Review the GWRC climate change strategy and establish a senior management champion for 
climate change priorities within the organisation to ensure an internal culture shift is achieved 
 
4.  Advocate to Central Government to ensure legislation enables GWRC to expedite climate change 
and related water quality and quantity actions and consent based on an emissions threshold 
 
REGIONAL ADAPTATION 
 
5.  Support territorial authorities to create and implement proactive place-based, inclusive and 
community-led, engagement programmes relevant to the different dynamics of each area, which 
draw on existing community networks and reflect the interdependent nature of environmental 
issues and people 
 
6.  Undertake additional technical research: 
 
a.  to be able to provide detailed, fit-for-purpose advice to support community engagement 
programmes and advise infrastructure renewal programmes 
 
b.  to inform fine scale mapping of areas at highest risk of flooding in conjunction with 
Wellington Water’s storm water investigations 
 
7.  Actively work with central government to identify funding opportunities for community 
engagement programmes and financing adaptation responses 
REGIONAL MITIGATION 
 
8.  Work collaboratively with key institutions and agencies across the region to develop a Regional 
Climate Mitigation Plan  
 
9.  Actively build a regional afforestation brokering role to build partnerships which capitalise on the 
Billion Trees programme and expand permanent native forests on public and private land 
 
10.  Embed emissions reductions targets in key programmes and projects to ensure the region 
contributes to the target of Net Zero New Zealand 2050, and long term infrastructure investments 
properly account for the anticipated increased cost of carbon resulting from the introduction of the 
Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill 
2019 
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