Kia ora M Joseph,

 

I have been asked to respond directly to your official information
request.

 

Please find responses to each element of your request below with relevant
documents attached.

 

Ngā mihi,

Matthew

 

Matthew Blaikie MIEMA CEnv | Chief Sustainability Officer

Chief Sustainability Office | Te Tari Tikanga Tokonga Roa Matua

Auckland Council | Te Kaunihera ō Tāmaki Makaurau

Ph 09 890 7729 Extn (46)7729 | [mobile number]
Auckland Council, Level 23, 135 Albert Street, Auckland
Visit our website: [1]www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

Personal Assistant: Alex Campbell [2][email address]
0272646870

 

 

From: M Joseph <[3][FOI #22827 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 17 May 2023 10:38 am
To: Official Information <[4][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Act Request -
Climate Change Initiatives

 

Kia ora Auckland Council

I am writing to make a request under the Official Information Act 1982.

I'm keen to understand more about the Auckland Council's response to
climate change. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could provide me
with the following information:

1) The Auckland Council's current strategy, plans or policies that are in
place to combat and adapt to climate change, especially those introduced
or updated within the last five years.

 

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan 

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri sets out Auckland’s strategic approach to climate
change mitigation and adaptation: 

[5]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...

  

Actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation are included under
the Priorities outlined in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri e.g. Built Environment  

  

Shoreline adaptation plans 

These plans set out the future management of Auckland Council owned-land
and assets on the coast.  

  

This webpage includes copies of: 

·         Whangaparāoa Shoreline Adaptation Plan: Pilot 1 

·         Wai Manawa / Little Shoal Bay: Mini Shoreline Adaptation Plan 

·         Coastal Management Framework for the Auckland Region (2017) 

[6]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...

  

Water-related impacts of climate change: A statement of Auckland Council’s
current role and direction (March 2022) 

Please see link below to Auckland Council’s current role and direction for
water-related impacts of climate change: 

[7]Too Much Water – Auckland Council’s current role and direction, March
2022 

  

Proposed Scope: Recent flooding impacts, implications, improvements 

Please see attached scope to investigate the flooding impacts,
implications and improvements to public policy and infrastructure settings
so that Auckland and its communities are more resilient to water related
hazards. 

This scope of work was approved by the Planning, Environment and Parks
Committee at the 2 March 2023 meeting. 

Also available online, see item 8:
[8]https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt...

  

Committee meeting minutes relating to this item are available online (item
8), this includes a note that the scope of work includes a review of the
Qualifying Matters applied in Plan Changes 78 and 80, including relating
to stormwater management and flood-prone areas, on a
catchment-by-catchment basis, and land stability.
[9]https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt...

2)Any assessments or reports produced by the council or commissioned by
the council, relating to the local impact of climate change in the
Auckland region.

 

o Auckland Region climate change projections and impacts, revised 2020:
[10]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Climate change risks in Auckland, 2019:
[11]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/media/1...
o An assessment of vulnerability to climate change in Auckland, 2019:
[12]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Climate change risk assessment for Auckland’s marine and freshwater
ecosystems, 2019:
[13]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Climate change risk assessment for terrestrial species and ecosystems
in the Auckland region, 2019:
[14]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Development of the Auckland Heat Vulnerability Index, 2019:
[15]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Air quality and societal impacts from predicted climate change in
Auckland, 2019:
[16]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Auckland’s exposure to sea level rise: part 1 – regional inventory:
[17]https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publica...
o Shoreline Adaptation Plans:
[18]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...

3) Information about the Council's initiatives or programmes aimed at
promoting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the city,
including any relevant data on the progress or results of these
initiatives.

 

o Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan 2022 Progress Report (see
attached ‘acp-progress report-sept-2022’. 2022 Progress Report and
2021 Progress Report also available here:
[19]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...
o 10-year Budget 2021 – 2031 (Long Term Plan) climate action package
(see attached ‘10 Year Budget 2021-2031 supporting information –
Climate Package’)
o Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) - Our Auckland article - Annual
Budget Focus: The Climate Action Targeted Rate explained:
[20]https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt...

Further information on the CATR including tables and maps of bus routes
can be found on pages 1-30 of last year’s annual budget supporting
information document:
[21]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/exte...

 

o Climate Disclosure (see attached vol-4-climate-change-risk (3)) 

o Auckland Council plays a key role in ensuring climate change is
embedded in the group’s key strategies, including the Auckland
Plan 2050 and the 10-year Budget 2021-2031 (the Recovery Budget).
The Recovery Budget was the first group long term plan that
identified climate action as a priority area, with $152 million
set aside for investment in climate action over the next 10
years. Auckland Council will work with its CCOs and POAL to
deliver this activity. 
o To support the integration of climate change into decision-making
on projects, plan and policies, Auckland Council has developed a
climate impact assessment tool to support the Governing Body in
its role of overseeing climate change risks. The tool will
consider the high-level impact of committee decisions on both GHG
emissions and climate resilience. The tool will integrate with
existing processes to ensure that climate change considerations
are embedded from the inception of projects and will enable
decision-makers to make more informed decisions. 

 

o Sustainable Finance (see attached annual-green-bond-report-2022 (1)).
Also available online, along with other related reports and documents:
[22]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/abou...

o Auckland Council has issued Green Bonds since 2018. Green Bonds
are intended to be used for projects that will benefit the
environment or to refinance corporate debt that supports such
projects; 

§     Transport Initiatives  

·                     Auckland’s public cycleway network  

o Increasing accessibility and safety for people on
bicycles. 
o Measure: 2.7 ktCO2e avoided. 
o Asset value: $94m 

·                     Electric trains 

o Switching Auckland’s train fleet from diesel to electric. 
o Measure: 19,261 tCO2e reduced and avoided. 
o Asset value: $516m 

·                     Wiri Electric Train Depot 

o Maintenance and stabling facility for electric trains. 
o Benefit: Ensures smooth operation of the electric trains
in the network. 
o Asset value: $77m 

·                     City Rail Link 

o Underground rail link enabling Auckland’s rail network to
double in capacity. 
o Measure: Projected carbon reductions: 

+ Embodied Carbon: 24,279 tCO2e (15.8 per cent) 
+ Construction energy: 6,636 tCO2e (19.3 per cent) 
+ Annual operational energy for the stations, tunnels and streetscape:
296 tCO2e (22.0 per cent). 

o Asset value: $1,457m 

·                     Manukau Bus Station  

o A South Auckland major public transport exchange. 
o Benefit: Increased public transport patronage by improving
frequency, quality and reliability of buses. 
o Asset value: $11m 

·                     Energy efficiency:  

o LED streetlights; Reducing energy consumption and
providing safer environments. 
o Measure: 3,622 tCO2e reduced and avoided. 
o Asset value: $64m 

·                     Rosedale floating solar array 

o Floating solar panels, generating clean energy. 
o Measure: 169 tCO2e reduced. 
o Asset value: $2m 

·                     Efficient Building  

o Auckland Council efficient buildings NABERSNZ rated
buildings. 
o Measure: 561 tCO2e reduced. 
o Asset value: $300m 

·                     Sustainable water management: 

o Located on Fred Thomas Drive, a pump station delivering
sustainable wastewater management services. 
o Measure: 2,268,855 m3 of water passed. 
o Asset value: $26m 

·                     Sustainable land use: 

o Puketutu Island; Quarry rehabilitation project for
wastewater 
o biosolids to avoid landfill. 
o Measure: 122,770 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. 
o Asset value: $132m 

o Please note that the sustainable finance project does not actually
reduce our impact on the climate, but it funds projects that do
reduce our impact on the climate.  

 

o The Education and Community Climate Action Group at Auckland Council
works with groups and individuals region-wide to support
evidence-based, impactful changes to reduce carbon emissions, build
resilience and prepare for climate change.  Details of the work
programme for the team is shown below, with data on progress, for the
last financial year (FY21-22). 

  

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Work programme |Results for 2021-2022 financial year   |
|focus areas   | |
|------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Support |Refer to Auckland Climate Plan progress report, September 2022, Communities and Coast priority area p.27-28.   |
|Aucklanders to | |
|reduce emissions |[23]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...
|through the | |
|provision of | |
|tools, resources | |
|and expert advice.| |
|Projects include | |
|Futurefit and | |
|Reduce Energy | |
|Hardship.   | |
|------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Support |Refer to Auckland Climate Plan progress report, September 2022, Communities and Coast priority area p.27-28.   |
|Aucklanders to | |
|reduce emissions |[24]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...
|and build | |
|resilience through| |
|community-based | |
|approaches to | |
|climate action. | |
|Projects include | |
|the Auckland | |
|Climate Grant, | |
|Community Climate | |
|Catalysts and | |
|Māori-led climate | |
|projects with | |
|rangatahi Māori | |
|and marae.   | |
|------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Support early |Refer to Auckland Climate Plan progress report, September 2022, Communities and Coast priority area p.27-28.   |
|childhood centres,| |
|schools and youth |[25]https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plan...
|to foster | |
|principles of | |
|kaitiakitanga and | |
|sustainability | |
|through | |
|student-led | |
|climate action. | |
|Projects in this | |
|focus area include| |
|Enviroschools and | |
|Trees for | |
|Survival.   | |
|------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Support a work |Delivery of $1,338,472 investment in Auckland Council Local Board sustainability/climate action initiatives.   |
|programme for | |
|Auckland Council |9000 visits and 3,600 bikes repaired at bike hubs.  |
|Local Boards, | |
|through their |40 Eco-Neighbourhood groups, 80 workshops/events delivered with over 800 participants.   |
|Locally Driven | |
|Initiatives (LDI) |148,000 moth plant pods and seedlings (a pest plant) removed from the local environment by school children.  |
|budget. Projects | |
|include Bike Hubs,| |
|Eco-Neighbourhoods| |
|and the Moth Plant| |
|Competition.   | |
| | |
|   | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

4) Any plans for future climate change initiatives or strategies that the
council is considering implementing, including projected timelines and
budgets for these plans.

 

o 10-year Budget 2021 – 2031 (Long Term Plan) climate action package
approved budget (see attached ‘LTP Climate Action Programme 10 year
original budgets’) 
o Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) budget and deliverables noted in
attached annual budget supporting information document (see attached
‘10 Year Budget 2021-2031 supporting information – Climate Package’
document)

5) Any communications or collaborations with other councils, government
bodies, or international entities in relation to climate change.

 

o Compiling all communications with other councils, government bodies,
or international entities in relation to climate change would be a
huge task and is not possible in the four hours allocated for official
information requests. Collaborations with other councils, government
bodies, or international entities in relation to climate change are
outlined below:

 

o Auckland Council staff are members of the Aotearoa Climate Adaptation
Network (ACAN), a network of council staff across Aotearoa working on
climate adaptation. ACAN hosts regular webinars on adaptation topics
delivered by practitioners from local and central government as well
as the research community. It is also a forum where members can
discuss adaptation issues affecting local government and seek
assistance from other members. 
o Auckland Council’s Lead Climate Resilience Advisor, is a member of the
Te Uru Kahika Climate Group. Te Uru Kahika is the organisation which
represents regional and unitary councils around Aotearoa. The Climate
Group was established in 2022 to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of the regional sector’s response to climate change
(mitigation and adaptation). 
o Auckland Council staff have had engagement with central government
departments such as the Ministry for the Environment, regarding the
implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and the development of
the Climate Adaptation Bill. 
o Auckland Council’s Lead Climate Mitigation Advisor, is a Member of a
Local Government Group that aims at developing and promoting a unified
tool to account and reduce GHG emissions. 
o In March 2023 the Chief Sustainability Office and other Auckland
Council staff met with staff from Northland Regional Council to
discuss our climate change work programmes and potential areas of
collaboration. Following this meeting, there has been ongoing
engagement to discuss potential joint support for initiative by a
northern iwi to embed climate action response into their Environmental
Management Plan. 
o Auckland Council staff met with Dunedin City Council staff in May 2023
to discuss and share learnings from the approach taken in Auckland
Council to allocate funding to actions outlined in Te
Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan. This covered funding
allocated through the 10-year Budget 2021 – 2031 (Long Term Plan)
climate action package and the Climate Action Targeted Rate (adopted
by Auckland Council as part of the Annual Budget 2022/2023).   
o Auckland was admitted into the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group in
December 2015, joining leading global cities committed to bold action
on climate change. C40 Cities now has a membership of nearly 100
world-leading cities with a network of mayors collaborating to deliver
action on climate change. There is no membership fee for C40 Cities,
instead Auckland is required to meet Leadership Standards to maintain
its membership of C40 Cities. Auckland Council staff participate in a
number of C40 networks for cities to share knowledge and best practice
and progress their understanding of climate action opportunities.

Please send the information in electronic format to this email address.

I understand that a decision on a request for information under the OIA
should be made within 20 working days of receiving that request. If you
need any clarification or further details to process this request, please
do not hesitate to contact me.

Cheers for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your prompt
response.

Yours faithfully,

M Joseph

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