- Waitākere Ranges Local Board has approved a climate action plan to organise efforts in the local area to reduce carbon emissions and help the community adapt to a changing climate.
- Key initiatives include joining the Urban Ngahere Programme to assess tree cover, installing solar panels on local facilities, and supporting the West Auckland Kai Sovereignty Plan, alongside other climate projects.
- The plan sets out actions across natural environment, built environment, transport, economy, community and coast, food, Te Puāwaitanga ō Te Tātai, and energy and industry.
An action plan setting out a local roadmap to reduce carbon emissions and help the community adapt to a changing climate in the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area has been adopted.
Aligning with Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland's Climate Plan, the Waitākere Ranges Climate Action Plan focuses on what makes the most sense to do locally to support Auckland’s wider climate goals, including halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Initiatives include joining the Urban Ngahere Programme to better understand tree cover in the board’s urban area, installing solar panels on facilities such as Titirangi War Memorial Library and Hall, and supporting the West Auckland Kai Sovereignty Plan, amongst other flagship projects that are particularly impactful in reducing carbon emissions and empowering community resilience within the ranges.
A community-driven plan
Waitākere Ranges Local Board chair Greg Presland says the plan acknowledges the many initiatives already happening across the west.
“We know westies care deeply about the environment. There are already more than 100 climate action projects underway in our communities. This plan builds on that mahi and invites us all to think about how we can reduce greenhouse gases locally so our mokopuna (grandchildren) can enjoy a safe future.”
A collective effort
Samantha Hill, Auckland Council General Manager Environmental Services, says the plan will help communities build on their strengths.
“People in the Waitākere Ranges live in very diverse settings from suburban neighbourhoods to forested and coastal areas. The plan highlights the actions that make the most sense locally. Everyone has a role to play, whether you’re mana whenua, an individual, a community group, a business, or part of the wider council family.”
Eight key priorities
The plan sets out actions across eight focus areas:
- Natural Environment
- Built Environment
- Transport
- Economy
- Community and Coast
- Food
- Te Puāwaitanga ō Te Tātai (The blossoming of Māori communities)
- Energy and Industry.
The plan will soon be available online.
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