A $250,000 ‘‘rapid review’’ assessing how to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions in Dunedin is under way.
The work would be completed by September, the Dunedin City Council heard this week.
Principal policy adviser Jinty MacTavish, a former city councillor, told councillors at a meeting on Monday no progress on reducing emissions had been made since 2013-14.
Council community and planning group manager Nicola Pinfold said the $251,472 review had been awarded to Coffey Services (NZL) Ltd.
Teams would identify activities that could add emissions, build climate resilience or create new climate risk, she said.
‘‘The review will also seek to identify potential future activity to reduce emissions — the extent to which they are required to achieve the city’s Zero Carbon 2030 target — and to reduce climate risk and increase adaptation capacity, and prioritise these activities according to their potential impact.’’
Work to update Dunedin’s carbon footprint was due to be completed by August. Funding of $572,000 was allocated in the 2020-21 financial year.
Cr Lee Vandervis said he was ‘‘over the virtue signalling’’.
‘‘Statements I keep hearing around this table about how wonderful it is that we keep producing these reports, none of which have had any practical positive effect on the environment, I find quite worrying.
‘‘It’s a job creation scheme.’’
Cr Marie Laufiso asked what engagement was taking place with the agricultural industry, which produces 48.1% of Dunedin’s emissions.
Ms MacTavish said while the council was hoping to achieve a 10% reduction in biogenic methane emissions, she ‘‘wouldn’t see it as a high priority for council emphasis at this point’’.
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Comments
What an abhorrent waste of money, how about spending it on practical things, like rubbish bins for dog poo, putting it towards debt?
I have to be responsible with my money, why doesn't this council feel it needs to be responsible with my money to?
What I would like to know is how much CO2 producing activity is needed to earn the $575k being spent to identify how much CO2 we emit ?
Then how much CO2 was emitted, in finding out how much we emit ?
Wouldn't we be much better off buying NZ made electric bikes for council workers to use. They could add little trailers for their tools.
The savings in CO2 emissions would easily be identified by the reduced fuel bill.
Now that WOULD be leading by example.
As for achieve the city’s Zero Carbon 2030 target, I'd say this council is right on track. The city will most likely, be completely dead by then.
Less reports and more action. When the Fortune theatre closed a $350,000 report was done on the arts and venues in Dunedin, it's findings have still not been released and nothing has changed. Millions have been spent on the Harbour side development in reports and consultations and still nothing to show for it. Multiple reports and trials on pedestrianisation and all they have done is help divide the city. I believe Hawkins and Bidrose are looking for justification for their already desided future plans though the use of reports.