What is climate change?
Climate change means the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns which are predominantly caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases - like the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas).
There are two main approaches to addressing or minimising the impacts of climate change. These work hand-in-hand and both will be required in our draft strategy:
Mitigation: Some actions can be taken to reduce the amount of these gases (e.g. we can replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources, carbon dioxide can be absorbed/sequestered by trees etc).
Adaptation: We can take action to adjust to or minimise the impacts of climate change (e.g. we can manage our stormwater networks to prepare for increased volume and frequency of rainfall, we can build higher stop banks around rivers to minimise chances of flooding nearby properties etc).
What is sustainability?
Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (e.g. recycling means we don't need to source more material, and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels, etc). Sustainability is complex and has implications across what we do, how we do it and how it impacts on the natural environment, which underpins everything we do.
How are the two linked?
By taking more sustainable actions, we will also reduce our emissions or better prepare us for the impacts of climate change.
e.g. reducing the amount of food waste that goes to landfill is a sustainable practice, and also means less methane will be released into the atmosphere.
What climate change impacts are we expecting in the Ashburton District?
Global warming has different impacts around the world and even within our district we are noticing a variety of impacts. For the Canterbury region, this varies from higher temperatures leading to an increasing likelihood of drought and in combination with more or stronger winds, a higher wildfire risk. It may also lead to more severe storms. Although the changes of rainfall will differ within the region, a combination of drier summers and wetter winters is expected for Canterbury.
As a district bounded by two large rivers on a flat plain, we know all too well about the risk of flooding, but the changes in seasons are likely to have real impacts on the region’s agricultural economy. A rising sea level will be the biggest impact for our coastal communities with changes to the coastline and coastal erosion. A warmer ocean will impact on a rising in sea level but also make our oceans more acidic and impact aquatic life.What is Council currently doing?
Council adopted a Climate Change Policy in 2019. After reviewing the policy in 2022, a Climate Resilience Plan was also developed. Many of the actions in the plan have been achieved and have given Council a better understanding of our greenhouse gas emissions and what areas we need to focus on when it comes to reducing these emissions.
Council has also reduced staff food waste to landfill, committed ongoing investment in biodiversity with the development of our first Biodiversity Strategy in 2024 (nature-based solution to climate change), joined the ‘It’s Time, Canterbury’ campaign and continued the important recycling mahi (work) at our resource recovery centres.
Council also plans for the effects of climate change through its regular activities, such as upgrading our stormwater network to help alleviate flooding in heavy rain events and the impacts on climate change are considered in every major decision that Council makes.
Council is also a partner in the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan, which was developed through a joint effort by Canterbury's 11 councils. The plan is focused on climate mitigation and adaptation with 10 regional climate actions including understanding climate risks, emissions reduction, adaptation planning, and climate education and advocacy.
Strategy Principles
In making decisions that can impact on (or are impacted by) climate change and sustainability, Council proposes to consider the following principles, alongside other decision-making considerations:
By way of comparison – the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan has eight principles: - Treaty-based, Solutions focused, Collaborative, Inclusive, Equitable, Informed, Intergenerational & Bold.
What changes, if any, do we need to make to these? Let us know in the online feedback form.
Council shares in a collective duty of care to safeguard the natural environment and the communities it supports. Policies and decisions on climate change and sustainability need to be flexible and enabling to allow for local decisions and empower organisations and individuals to reduce emissions and improve the sustainability of community activities. Our work also needs to be focussed on pragmatic local and regional actions that will move us forward.
Council will think and act with the long-term in mind to provide clear and consistent plans towards a sustainable, low emissions economy, environment, and society.
Council will consider the needs and contributions of all partners and stakeholders including the most vulnerable and those without a voice – including future generations – as it responds to climate change and sustainability opportunities. This includes recognising and advocating for the needs of communities and individuals disproportionately affected by climate change and unsustainable practices.
Council will use the best available information to understand the potential impacts of climate change and sustainability issues. It will also use the best available information on options for responding to those impacts – including their costs and benefits. Council will make this information available to engage in meaningful conversations with communities and be clear with each other and communities on what we don’t know and where there are limitations or uncertainties with our information.
Wherever practicable, Council will work co-operatively and collaboratively with partner organisations and communities, including our manawhenua in the District and the wider Canterbury region. Council will also strive to ensure greater alignment and integration of its activities relating to climate change including the maximising of co-benefits wherever practicable and affordable.
Some impacts of the changing climate are already inevitable. Council will work with communities and businesses to improve their understanding of climate change risks and sustainable practices and what they can do to manage risks and apply practices to continue to thrive.
Further reading
Early engagement with the community on the strategy highlighted that there are differing views on the science referencing human responsibility for the changing climate. This strategy is based on the facts and science presented by New Zealand institutes like NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), and government departments like the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Primary Industries. The international standard is the work produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For more details on this, please visit:
