Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting on @AklCouncil’s Climate Action Framework - Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri.

What’s going to happen? or

Disclosure: I’m co-chair with @rg_jones of the Independent Advisory Group, so especially interested...

Hearing now from Dr Mels Barton about mature trees at Canal Road, Avondale, under threat of felling. As forthcoming LiDAR analysis shows, Auckland losing mature trees at swift rate... https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2007/S00254/last-chance-to-save-canal-road-trees.htm

Appeals being made to Council’s Urban Ngahere Strategy, esp “protecting” value in its strategic framework. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/topic-based-plans-strategies/environmental-plans-strategies/Pages/urban-ngahere-forest-strategy.aspx

Mayor Goff says he’s continuing to push to reverse the RMA reforms which removed default protections for trees.

Other options like land swaps being discussed but it’s determined that this isn’t the appropriate committee to examine these.

Now discussing the analysis that @simonbwilson reports here... https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12026846

Dr Barton argues that new tree planting may obscure the problem of losing mature trees, by making forest cover appear net neutral, when actually the relatively greater benefits of mature trees being lost. She’s also backing Tūpuna Maunga Authority in its restoration activities.

Now hearing from the granddaughter of Walter Burgess, a woodwork teacher who planted the Canal Road trees and believed that they were protected...

(A reminder of the intergenerational trust involved in tree planting: it’s an act of trust in ongoing care and stewardship that can be betrayed in a single moment, irrespective of aspirations of past and future people.)

Onto the Plan... Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Forum along with Auckland Council reps. @AlecTang_ noting that he’s engaged with each mana whenua individually, as well as public consulation...

Johnnie Freeland from Kaitiaki Forum starting out by endorsing earlier speakers, observing that trees are ancestors. Meanwhile across the city... https://twitter.com/nickofnz/status/1285315441267634176?s=21 https://twitter.com/nickofnz/status/1285315441267634176

Freeland saying that the partnership exercised thru the climate plan process was “unprecedented”. That’s a great procedural outcome!!

He observes that climate and Covid are reminders that we need to recalibrate, and that matariki is a time to reflect.

He also says that mana whenua are prepared to accept migrants from climate change, and has a long history of manaakitanga to refugees - from those displaced by Land Wars, to refugee flows of recent decades.

Now onto Auckland emissions: transport largest sector (over 1/3), then industrial sector: 20% stationary energy and 15% industrial process. Unlike much of NZ, agri small, only about 6%. Accordingly CO2 is the principal focus.

Discussion turning to Council’s financial situation post-Covid but a reminder that climate change isn’t going away & that costs of action only become steeper as time passes.

Deputy Mayor Cashmore exploring whether Covid-related drop in emissions is analogous to what Plan is striving for, but Council clarifies that Covid reductions are not like systemic change that Plan defines, where emissions reduce even when economy not frozen like in lockdown.

Mayor Goff noting that most people accept climate change reality now, but not many grasp sense of #ClimateEmergency akin to what Council passed last year.

Cr Darby now strongly endorsing plan, but raising concerns about the institutional inertia of Council, given need for haste.

@AlecTang_ accepting Cr Darby’s point & emphasising need for “purpose-driven” organisation.

Cr Simpson worried about upfront costs of electric buses, & Council discussing far lower opex costs of running e-buses, perhaps 60% lower & due to reduce further as tech improves.

Cr Walker pointing out that, under former Mayor Len Brown, an earlier low-emissions strategy committed to a 30% reduction by 2020.

Yet Auckland emissions increased, while other cities around world succeeded in reducing emissions. He says climate needs to be on risk register.

Cr @richardhills777 clarifying that climate is indeed already on risk register. But Cr Walker’s broader points about why Auckland hasn’t succeeded in bending the curve, when other cities have, still stand.

Cr Dalton endorsing Plan and highlighting the importance of the Plan’s equity lens. Things drawing gradually to a close, in a positive spirit of endorsement...

Meanwhile I’m going to need to scoot off for my 1pm meeting which I’m now disgracefully running late for...

Phew my 1pm also running late so I’ve got leeway. I’m grateful to Cr @richardhills777 for trying to race to the end... He’s recalling the current extraordinary rainfall in the north, the drought here, and the red skies in January. (What a year! Seems like a lifetime ago...)

The ayes have it. Passed unanimously.