Whakatāne District Council is forging ahead after a set of seven Climate Change Principles were adopted last year following a community engagement programme. The seven principles are designed to guide all Council’s future decision-making processes, and provide a framework to work through the opportunities and challenges climate change presents for the Whakatāne District.
This year, the Council will develop a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan with a clear programme of action and targets to meet, incorporating feedback from the community and ensuring there is a strategic approach to addressing any issues across the organisation. Strategy and Policy Committee Chair Nándor Tánczos says the impacts of climate change affect everyone and local government needs to change and adapt its operations as a result.
"Our District has experienced, and will continue to experience, the very real effects of climate change. We need to make sure we are doing whatever we can to reduce our own emissions, as well as prepare for the impacts. That means honing in on each and every activity we manage," he says.
Council has had positive results from the Energy Management Programme currently being undertaken across six of its facilities. This includes the Whakatāne Aquatic Centre reducing its carbon emissions by 114,000 tonnes in the last 12 months - the equivalent of approximately four households’-worth, saving ratepayers $35,000. Councillor Tánczos says this type of tangible result shows what can be done when actions just get started.
"A relatively simple change to how we use the gas boilers has produced outstanding results, and I’m really proud of our staff who are proactively seeking ways to reduce carbon emissions in our District."
Another example of some forward-thinking action is the purchase of three fully-electric fleet vehicles, including the mayoral vehicle.
"Council’s petrol and diesel consumption was contributing to more than 12 percent of its carbon footprint, so the decision to look at the vehicle fleet was simple," says Councillor Tánczos.
"Our country is on a mission to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and using electric vehicles is one of the key things we can do to reduce our impacts because of our high levels of renewable electricity generation in Aotearoa. Investing in electric vehicles has both environmental and economic pay-offs, so it’s a great way to show our communities that Council is doing the right thing."
Council staff are also currently taking part in the Aotearoa Bike Challenge during BikeMonth in February which involves taking to bikes to and from work, or to attending meetings around town and recording the kilometres travelled.
Anyone wanting to find out more about climate change and the Council’s work can chat with the Council on 17 and 31 March in Wharaurangi on The Strand as part of Sustainable Backyards month. Managed by EnviroHub, Sustainable Backyards is a series of events in March that help inspire people to learn, take action and be involved with the environment. A variety of events are happening throughout the Bay of Plenty, with Whakatāne events including tours of Bin Inn and CReW, frock swaps and the much-anticipated ‘Sustain-a-ball’, celebrating pre-loved fashion.
Councillor Tánczos says the development of the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan will provide clear direction and timeframes for all Council decisions, processes and operations but Council is not waiting for that before making positive changes.
"Behaviour change is always a challenge, but seeing tangible results is a great incentive to keep moving forward and do whatever we can to build organisational and community resilience against climate change."