From increasing public transport options, to decarbonising the council’s operations, to community food initiatives and building resilience to flood events, Auckland Council is delivering tangible, positive climate outcomes for Aucklanders. That’s according to Auckland Council’s Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan 2024 progress snapshot.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the council’s Policy and Planning Committee applauds the progress already made but reminds us that to maintain momentum and achieve our climate goals requires continued commitment from all of us.
“As a region, the scale and speed of climate action needed to make an impact on resilience continues to grow and will require increasing levels of cohesion and investment across both government and our council.”
Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan is Auckland Council’s long-term approach to climate action. It sets out eight priority action areas to deliver our goals to reduce carbon pollution and plan in ways that prevent further climate disruption.
Kataraina Maki, Auckland Council’s Chief Sustainability Officer, believes the council plays a crucial role in forward-thinking to make caring for everyone in a climate-disrupted future a reality.
“Imagine the lives we can all live when, across our communities, we are empowered to take the bold climate actions we need, and know are feasible. Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan provides long term solutions to make wise decisions now that will prevent further disruption to the climate later for future generations.
“Kia kotahi, Auckland Council supports our communities to unite, work together, and adapt to low-carbon, climate-prepared lifestyles to meet peoples’ needs and make our city better for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to climate disruption.”
The annual progress report highlights the council’s contribution towards the implementation of Te Tāruke-a-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan based on the levels of actions that are completed, in progress, and still required in reducing emissions and improving resilience to climate change. It also provides highlights of progress and key challenges for each priority in the plan along with a summary of key initiatives planned for the year ahead.
Key highlights of 2023/2024 report include:
- Collecting and diverting 20,000 tonnes of food scraps from landfill, exceeding the target of 18,000 tonnes for year one
- Investment in public transport to increase patronage up to 100 million boardings by March 2025
- Issuing three new green bonds increasing total green bond holdings to NZ $3.7 billion
- The Auckland Council climate grant funded 32 community-led projects, with approximately a third going to underserved communities
- Approximately 750,000 trees were planted across the region as part of the Urban Ngahere programme
- Several projects including Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland Domain Wintergardens have switched from gas to electricity and alternative energy sources, saving money and reducing emissions.
A planted area and stormwater stream beside the motorway in South Auckland.
Building resilience to future extreme weather events top priority for the council
In response to the 2023 extreme weather events, Auckland Council has partnered with the government to implement a $2 billion flood recovery and resilience package. As severe weather events happen more frequently, the council is preparing for the additional water we know to expect and preventing further flood risks through financial support for affected homeowners, supporting community-led responses and accelerating crucial repairs to affected infrastructure.
The Making Space for Water programme has been integral to this work where $820 million has been given to help build resilience, repair affected stormwater assets and reduce the impacts of future intense rainfall.
Councillor Hills says that rebuilding our infrastructure after big flooding and climate events can prevent worsening climate disruption.
“Rampant carbon pollution has trapped heat like a blanket in our atmosphere and warmed the oceans, leading to a disrupted climate and more extreme weather events. A lot more water is one of the effects,” he says.
“Auckland Council prioritises working alongside mana whenua, communities, and infrastructure experts to redesign our city to be more spongy to soak up this extra water and reduce heat in our neighbourhoods.
“By uncovering our natural waterways and enhancing and maintaining our stormwater systems through programmes like Making Space for Water, we’re giving water space to flow and rise to build resilience and reduce the impacts of future flooding.”
An electric bus on Waiheke Island.
Zero emission transport
Auckland’s public transport network is becoming fully electric. A total of 180 buses are now zero emissions in the fleet, making it the largest fleet of zero-emission buses of any city in Australasia. Investment in the transition from fossil fuels to lower emissions has also seen the construction of the first low emission ferries. The Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate has also increased our frequent bus network to forty routes in total, the most recent addition is the 94, which is seeing almost 400 new users each day.
Te Herenga Waka O Orewa Marae has received funding to repair flooring in the wharekai, an engineering design to improve stormwater management.
Mana whenua partnerships
Auckland Council supports leadership of mana whenua who have expertise in living in harmony with natural systems to care for their rohe and tāngata, using mātauranga Māori to guide how te taiao is valued and protected. The council supports climate resilience programmes across seven Auckland marae as part of the Resilient Marae Programme, and rangatahi Māori-led responses to the environment such as Mātātahi Taio to deliver climate action outcomes using traditional Māori knowledge systems and practices.
About the progress snapshot
The council group this year reports that based on the current allocation of funding for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, meeting the 2050 net zero target set in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri is becoming more challenging within timeframe and financial constraints. Regional emissions are also starting to rise, after they temporarily decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report identifies that we all face big challenges in a climate-disrupted future. Better, resilient lives for everyone are possible through bold community climate planning, and a sustained collective commitment and effort from government, the council, businesses, communities and individuals to climate action.
