Climate Action Joint Committee catches up on further action plan progress

The Manawatū-Whanganui Climate Action Joint Committee met this week to catch up on further progress completed under the inaugural Manawatū-Whanganui Joint Climate Action Plan.

Co-chair of the committee and Horizons Regional Council chair Rachel Keedwell says the plan, which was developed by a working group of the committee’s tangata whenua and elected leaders, was adopted nearly two years ago, 
 
“As well as providing a roadmap for individual and community response to climate change, the plan made recommendations to councils of key actions to take to respond to climate change, as a group and as separate councils,” says Cr Keedwell. 
 
“Over the last two years councils have progressed their climate change response, reporting progress each six months to the committee, providing transparency of their response and support for councils working together.”
 
Co-chair of the committee Dr Huhana Smith says at Monday’s meeting each district’s mayor provided a summary of the key aspects of their council’s climate change response over the past six months. 
 
“These actions included things such as plantings in the Tararua District to address erosion following Cyclone Gabrielle; confirming the Long-term Plan budget for climate action in the Horowhenua; work on a city-wide climate action plan in Palmerston North; construction of stormwater detention ponds for a new subdivision in the Manawatū District; and a coastal action plan in Whanganui.”
 
Cr Keedwell says Whanganui District Council also presented on their experience and learnings as one of four councils from across the country whose climate change response was audited by Audit NZ. 
 
“Audit NZ made five key recommendations to those four councils. These included to take opportunities to collaborate and assist each other in understanding the current and likely impacts of a changing climate on their infrastructure and communities, and to report publicly on progress with climate change strategies and work programmes to support accountability, keeping communities well informed, engaged, and supportive.
 
“Those two recommendations confirm regional leadership is vital for a coordinated response across councils – and how well placed we are in this space thanks to the Climate Action Joint Committee. It also highlights the continued need to publicly report progress to provide transparency and keep communities well informed.” 
 
Dr Huhana says there is still much more to do for an effective regional response to climate change.
 
“Tangata whenua, councils and communities all have a role to play together if the region is to transition to a sustainable and resilient future. We are not where we need to be as a climate resilient region yet, but we are certainly on the path.
 
“Looking to the year ahead, a key action to be undertaken is the development of an emissions reduction kete for iwi/Māori following the recommendation of tangata whenua members. This will be developed over 2025 by a working group of tangata whenua members and funded by Horizons.”

To read the Joint Climate Action plan in English visit: https://www.horizons.govt.nz/HRC/media/Media/Climate-JointActionPlan-English.pdf
 
To read the Joint Climate Action plan in te reo Māori visit: https://www.horizons.govt.nz/HRC/media/Media/Climate-Joint-Action-Plan-Te-Reo.pdf