Agenda of Climate Action Joint Committee

Climate Action Joint Committee

Monday 11 March 2024

Subject: Joint Committee funding update

Reason for Report

1. The Climate Action Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has further considered ways in which joint funding for regional climate action work from the Climate Action Joint Committee Partner Councils could be spent over the next three years.

2. This report presents the joint views of the TAG for the Committee’s consideration.

Officers’ Recommendations

3. The TAG recommends that the Committee supports option 2 and endorses a revised budget and high-level work programme as its preferred option for allocating any joint funding received for the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years.

Executive Summary

4. The Council members of the Climate Action Joint Committee (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Wairoa District Council) have been urged by the Committee’s Chairs to provide funding to jointly fund regional climate action work over the next three years.

5. A proposed budget for a high-level climate action programme of work was provided as part of the request for funding from Councils.

6. Having further considered this programme of work, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has agreed to recommend that the Joint Committee prioritises funding received towards undertaking a regional climate change risk assessment, which includes data acquisition and risk modelling.

Background /Discussion

7. At their meeting of December 11, Climate Action Joint Committee members considered a proposal for shared funding for regional climate action including mitigation and adaptation approaches.

8. The high-level budget for the next three years proposed joint funding of $230,000 per year split between Partner Councils.

9. Following Joint Committee discussions regarding the appropriate funding allocations between Partner Councils, Dr Nic Peet, Chief Executive of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council wrote to all Chief Executives to agree on a proposed funding split of 26% (HBRC): 26% (HDC): 26% (NCC): 11% CHBDC: 11% (WDC).

10. Joint Committee Chair and Deputy Chair then wrote to the Mayors of all Partner Councils to request that they allocate funding in their long-term plans under this basis for the workplan of the Climate Action Joint Committee.

11. At the same 11 December 2023 meeting, Joint Committee members also requested more information from staff about the proposed work plan and estimated costs over the three years.

12. This paper provides more information on the proposed costs and components of the work plan, as proposed by the Climate Action Technical Advisory Group at their meeting of 26 February.

13. Having taken away lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle, and in the context of preparing their Long Term Plans, Councils are applying a future focussed climate change and resilience focus to future planning and decision making.

14. Council officers in the TAG have discussed and agreed that that there is a critical need to better understand the exposure of Hawke’s Bay communities and critical lifeline assets (e.g. 3-Waters infrastructure, land transport assets etc) to climate change risk. This is particularly important to ensure that Councils can build their maturity to incorporate climate change risk into decision-making and activity and asset management planning in the future.

15. The TAG, for example, discussed that a measure of success for Councils could be that a GIS layer reflecting climate-related risks (e.g. flooding, landslides, coastal erosion etc) in relation to critical assets is available to Councils in 2026 to inform Asset Management Plans in time for the next round of Long Term Plans due in 2027.

16. This climate risk assessment would likely involve acquiring data to build an understanding of climate-related risk across the region, as well as modelling this risk to communities and infrastructure assets and potentially offering options on how to mitigate/manage these risks.

17. The TAG has agreed that leveraging and maximising joint funding for a climate risk assessment across Hawke’s Bay will benefit all Climate Action Committee member Councils and communities who need information about risks under projected climate change.

18. The TAG has therefore agreed to recommend to the Committee that joint regional funding for the 2024-25 financial year should be prioritised towards undertaking a regional climate change risk assessment.

19. The TAG is seeking endorsement from the Committee on a revised high-level budget and work plan that represents this recommendation, aligning the costs with where they will actually fall within the next three years but maintaining the same overall 3-year budget, as per the table below.

Table 1. Revised budget on climate action work programme (maintaining same overall 3-year budget)

Climate Action Joint Committee budget	FY2024-25	FY2025-26	FY2026-27
Climate change risk assessment (data acquisition and risk modelling)	$200,000	$140,000	$140,000
Risk explorer portal and community engagement	$0	$40,000	$40,000
Measurement and monitoring of regional carbon contributions to climate change	$0	$60,000	$0
Communication, engagement and events	$0	$10,000	$15,000
Committee administration costs (remuneration mana whenua, workshop facilitation)	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000
Community grants for climate action / adaptation	$0	$0	$0
Total Joint Committee costs	$215,000	$265,000	$210,000
Proposed annual contributions HBRC, NCC, HDC (26%)	$55,900	$68,900	$54,600
WDC, CHBDC (11%)	$23,650	$29,150	$23,100

20. Note that we propose to undertake this work through the Joint Committee to enable efficiencies of scale, ensure consistency in approach, reduce and risk of duplication and to maximise work that is done through other shared workstreams such as Civil Defence.

21. The TAG is prioritising work to build a business case for the regional climate change risk assessment, including user requirements from all parties, potential providers, associated costs, preferred climate change approach, and community engagement requirements. This will be brought back to the Joint Committee for discussion at their meeting in May.

22. As a result, the TAG wishes to highlight that we do not yet understand the full costs involved in the regional climate change risk assessment. However, based on discussions at the TAG meeting on 26 February 2024, there is broad agreement that the budget initially allocated to the climate risk assessment is likely to be too low. The revised table therefore reflects an updated budget for the climate change risk assessment line.

Options Assessment

23. Option 1: The status quo as presented in the funding request sent by the Climate Action Joint Committee Chairs in the letter to Mayors dated 14 February 2024, and presented in table 2.

Table 2: Option 1 (status quo)

Climate Action Joint Committee budget	FY2024-25	FY2025-26	FY2026-27
Climate change risk assessment (data acquisition and risk modelling)	$100,000	$100,000	$100,000
Risk explorer portal and community engagement	$40,000	$40,000	$40,000
Measurement and monitoring of regional carbon contributions to climate change	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000
Committee administration costs (remuneration mana whenua, workshop facilitation)	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000
Communication, engagement and events	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000
Community grants for climate action / adaptation	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000
Total Joint Committee costs	$230,000	$230,000	$230,000
Proposed annual contributions HBRC, NCC, HDC (26%)	$59,800	$59,800	$59,800
WDC, CHBDC (11%)	$25,300	$25,300	$25,300

24. Option 2 (preferred option): A revised budget for the same overall amount and high-level work programme as recommended by the Climate Action Technical Advisory Group presented in table 3 below.

Table 3: Option 2 (recommended)

Climate Action Joint Committee budget	FY2024-25	FY2025-26	FY2026-27
Climate change risk assessment (data acquisition and risk modelling)	$200,000	$140,000	$140,000
Risk explorer portal and community engagement	$0	$40,000	$40,000
Measurement and monitoring of regional carbon contributions to climate change	$0	$60,000	$0
Communication, engagement and events	$0	$10,000	$15,000
Committee administration costs (remuneration mana whenua, workshop facilitation)	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000
Community grants for climate action / adaptation	$0	$0	$0
Total Joint Committee costs	$215,000	$265,000	$210,000
Proposed annual contributions HBRC, NCC, HDC (26%)	$55,900	$68,900	$54,600
WDC, CHBDC (11%)	$23,650	$29,150	$23,100

Tangata whenua implications

25. Funding is not requested from the Joint Committee members appointed from Post-Settlement Governance Entities. These members are remunerated for their time and contributions to the committee.

Decision-making process

26. Council and its committees are required to make every decision in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements in relation to this item and have concluded:

26.1. The decision does not significantly alter the service provision or affect a strategic asset, nor is it inconsistent with an existing policy or plan.

26.2. The use of the special consultative procedure is not prescribed by legislation.

26.3. The decision is not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy.

26.4. The persons affected by this decision are all residents of Hawke’s Bay.

26.5. Given the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided, and also the persons likely to be affected by, or have an interest in the decisions made, Council can exercise its discretion and make a decision without consulting directly with the community or others having an interest in the decision.

Recommendations

That the Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Joint Committee Funding Update staff report.

2. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Joint Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision.

3. Endorses the revised budget for the same overall amount and high-level work programme as recommended by the Climate Action Technical Advisory Group presented in table 1 below.

Table 1: Option 2

Climate Action Joint Committee budget	FY2024-25	FY2025-26	FY2026-27
Climate change risk assessment (data acquisition and risk modelling)	$200,000	$140,000	$140,000
Risk explorer portal and community engagement	$0	$40,000	$40,000
Measurement and monitoring of regional carbon contributions to climate change	$0	$60,000	$0
Communication, engagement and events	$0	$10,000	$15,000
Committee administration costs (remuneration mana whenua, workshop facilitation)	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000
Community grants for climate action / adaptation	$0	$0	$0
Total Joint Committee costs	$215,000	$265,000	$210,000
Proposed annual contributions HBRC, NCC, HDC (26%)	$55,900	$68,900	$54,600
WDC, CHBDC (11%)	$23,650	$29,150	$23,100

Authored by:

Dylan Muggeridge

Group Manager Strategic Planning & Development

Pippa Mckelvie-Sebileau

Climate Action Ambassador

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy & Governance Manager

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

Climate Action Joint Committee

Monday 11 March 2024

Subject: Natural Hazards Gap Analysis

Reason for Report

1. At the 11 December 2023 meeting of the Joint Committee, the scope and requirements of a regional climate change risk assessment were discussed and officers were asked to gather more information on the current status of regional knowledge and coverage of hazards and risks affected by climate change.

2. This paper first details the Ministry for Environment (MFE) and Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change approaches to climate change risk assessment and presents a stocktake of the current status of known climate change hazards in the region.

3. This information will be used to inform a broader project to scope and define priorities and requirements for a regional climate change assessment as part of the work programme of the Joint Committee.

Executive Summary

4. Phase 1 – As part of their work on the Resilience Explorer spatial-based hazard and vulnerability platform, Urban Intelligence delivered a climate change hazards data gap analysis that was presented to Climate Action Joint Committee in May 2023.

5. Phase 2 – The Climate Action Joint Committee requested further investigation of current knowledge on climate change risks to inform the workplan and budget. The tables contained and attached to this paper responds to that request, covering hazards affected directly by climate change and identifying potential gaps. Note that this paper does not yet prioritise hazards or actions which would be the focus of future work.

6. Phase 3 – Establish a working group of the Technical Advisory Group to undertake a business case analysis of our requirements for the climate change risk assessment and to provide market options and associated budgets. This will be the focus of a decision paper to be presented to Joint Committee in May.

Background – HB Climate Change Risk Assessment

7. At the 11 December 2023 Climate Action Joint Committee meeting, the need for a regional climate change risk assessment was discussed. Council officers signalled that this piece of work may cost $300k or more. Given the sizeable expense, the joint committee requested that officers develop a proposal and provide different options for risk assessments.

8. The first step of this is to establish what is currently known, including geographical coverage and data suitability.

9. This builds on the work by Urban Intelligence who uploaded all available and spatially-based risk and asset information into one online platform Resilience Explorer (screenshot presented below as presented to the Joint Committee in May 2023).

10. Since that date, the regional climate change risk assessment has not progressed significantly due to a governance focus on setting a joint Vision & Strategy, and an operational focus on Cyclone recovery, including post cyclone hazard research.

11. With the Climate Action Joint Committee now fully established with membership from all five partner councils and appointed mana whenua representatives, a regional climate change risk assessment is clearly part of the mandate of this committee, where collaboration can ensure a consistent approach is used to the climate scenarios used in modelling risk, and where working collaboratively will enable cost-savings.

Background on climate change risk and hazards

IPCC risk definition

12. Climate change risk comes from the overlap of hazards, vulnerability and exposure.

12.1. Exposure and vulnerability can be reduced through climate adaptation.

12.2. Hazard probability can be reduced through climate mitigation (reduction of carbon pollution).

13. Comprehensive risk assessments should take into account all three of these factors in assessing current and future levels of risk.

Figure TS.2 IPCC AR6 – Risk propeller

Approach to risk communication with communities

14. As we progress into greater climate destabilisation and increased hazard probability, it will be necessary to provide regular updates to hazard and risk projections so that communities and mana whenua can utilise this to inform their own decision making.

15. This technical risk and hazard information should be presented in an understandable and interpretable format.

16. Council officers working in climate adaptation believe that it is important to a) provide information in a spatial form, and b) ensure that risk information is holistic and multi-layered, considering compounding risks, rather than a hazard-by-hazard isolated approach.

Why did we do this scoping?

17. Current hazards information is made available to the public via the HB Hazards portal. However, for technical reasons, the portal can only show a limited number of climate scenarios and timeframes. There are differences in the climate models used for each hazard and for some hazards, climate change future projections are not taken into account.

18. Some of the current hazard information on HB hazards portal does not align with MFE recommendations^{^[1]}:

18.1. use the best available data for the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5 or RCP4.5) and the fossil-fuel intensive development scenario (SSP5-8.5 or RCP8.5)

18.2. screen hazard and risk assessments for longer-term coastal impacts up to 2130 (SSP5-8.5 or RCP8.5).

18.3. The national adaptation plan recommends local government should use these climate change scenarios at a minimum. However, where possible, local government are encouraged to use the full range of relevant scenarios.

19. Current hazard maps on the HB Hazards portal use different climate scenarios (RCP/SSP), do not offer full geographical coverage and, for some hazards, are based on potentially outdated data.

20. In addition, and importantly in the context of risk communication, the hazard portal is not designed to indicate vulnerability for assets or people, or to describe compounding risks (where one area is affected by multiple risks).

21. The hazard information on the HB Hazards portal is used by various groups from civil defence, assets management, policy and planning teams, and climate change strategy.

22. Risk information is also contained in the Risk Register managed by CDEM but this is not spatial based and ranking of risks requires updating.

Current status of hazards information

23. The following table outlines the status of the hazards information for various hazards directly impacted by climate change across the four geographical areas and districts of Hawke’s Bay. The table in the attachment gives links to the sources of data and more detailed description as to potential gaps in the data or need for more updated modelling.

24. The table is arranged in order of risk rating from the CDEM risk register (July 2021).

25. For further information and links to the source of the data, refer to the attached table HB Hazard Information Stocktake (4 March) where rationale behind the certainty rating in this table can be found for each hazard.

Discussion

26. Climate change affects hazard frequency and exposure to the hazard, increasing the associated risk.

27. Climate change risk assessment covers multiple Regional and District/City Council workstreams and as such there is a need for collaborative approach both within and between councils.

28. As shown in the following figure, various teams within Councils and within the community then respond to risk through preventative and response mechanisms like emissions reduction, coastal hazards strategy, flood protection, and emergency preparedness.

29. Good data on spatial-based hazards, economic impact and opportunities of climate change is required to inform a Climate Adaptation Strategy for the region.

30. The table presented in this paper provides a high-level overview of current sources of hazard information and status based on age of the data, geographical coverage and methodology used. The information is intended to inform a prioritization process for the next step to scope user requirements and priorities for a regional climate change risk assessment.

Next Steps

31. TAG to establish user requirements, potential providers, full costs and priorities for a regional climate change assessment and present this to the Joint Committee in May.

Decision-making process

32. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Climate Action Joint Committee receives and notes the Natural Hazards Gap Analysis staff report.

Authored by:

Pippa Mckelvie-Sebileau

Climate Action Ambassador

Steffi Bird

HDC Risk Manager

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy & Governance Manager

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Hawke's Bay Hazard Information Stocktake March 2024

Climate Action Joint Committee

Monday 11 March 2024

Subject: Regional Community Carbon Footprint update

Reason for Report

1. This paper informs the Climate Action Joint Committee of the annual update to the levels of greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere in the Hawke’s Bay region for the financial year (1 July – 30 June) 2021-22.

2. This work extends the baseline inventory (2018-2021) conducted by AECOM New Zealand Limited for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC); with community carbon footprints for the region and each district presented to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on 28 September 2022.

3. Annual updates of the region’s emissions inventory are invaluable for monitoring progress in emissions reduction and will serve as a vital tool to transition to a low emissions economy and contribute to legislated national carbon budgets.

Executive Summary

4. In the financial year of 2021-2022 Hawke’s Bay region’s gross greenhouse gas emissions were 4,340 kilotonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (kt CO₂-e). The agriculture sector (68%) and energy sector (transport and stationary energy, 29%), were the two largest contributors to gross emissions.

5. Net emissions, once sequestration from forestry was accounted for, were 1,489 kt CO₂-e.

6. Over the last four years of measurement, greenhouse gas emissions in Hawke’s Bay show minimal change.

7. Annual monitoring of regional emissions is proposed by the HBRC Senior Climate Scientist with support from TLA staff to provide data, with three-yearly externally verified reports.

8. Updating the community carbon footprint is important in building a comprehensive knowledge base on the region’s emissions profile and working towards the regional goal to be net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This 2021-2022 update shows that gross emissions are not reducing in line with the reductions needed to achieve this goal.

Background

9. In 2016, the New Zealand government signed and ratified the Paris Agreement, which is a legally binding international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to below two degrees (United Nations Climate Change, 2016). In response to this commitment, the New Zealand’s Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 was adopted. This act serves to guide climate change policies and stipulates that the country must reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions, other than biogenic methane, to net zero by 2050. The target for biogenic methane is 24% to 47% less than 2017 emissions by 2050.

10. To better understand the country’s emissions profile, the Ministry of Environment analysed and compiled New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 – 2021 with estimates of the national greenhouse gas emissions (Ministry for the Environment, 2023). While this inventory provided key findings on the country’s emissions sources and sinks, it is recognised that the transition to a low (or net carbon zero) economy requires a regional understanding of emission profiles and trends.

11. In 2017, the Mayors and Chairs of New Zealand including the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and many of the region’s territorial authorities signed the Local Government Leader’s Climate Change Declaration, committing to developing climate change actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Local Government New Zealand, 2017).

12. In June 2019, HBRC declared a climate emergency, with a regional goal to be net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (HBRC, 2023).

13. In 2022, HBRC commissioned the first community carbon footprint for the region. This inventory provided important details on the region’s emissions sources and trends for the period 2018 to 2021 and profiled the contributions of the territorial districts (Napier, Wairoa, Hastings, and Central Hawke’s Bay).

14. The baseline inventory indicated that the emissions profile of the region is strongly influenced by agriculture, followed by the energy sectors (transport and stationary), while waste and industrial processes and product use (IPPU) are minimal contributors (AECOM New Zealand Limited, 2022). Biogenic methane (CH₄) contributes more than half of the region’s total carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e) driven in part by methane’s global warming impact. Likewise, nitrous oxide (N₂O) follows a similar pattern, contributing only a small amount to the total tonnage but displays a greater influence in terms of CO₂-e. Although forestry plays a key role in sequestering almost 2/3^rd of the region’s gross emissions, greenhouse gases such as biogenic methane and nitrous oxide have strong global warming effects and priority should be given to reducing the sources of these emissions.

Methodological approach

15. In this paper, we refer to greenhouse gas inventory as an estimation of all emissions and removals of greenhouse gases for the financial year of 2021-22. Gross emissions are the total emissions from agriculture, transport, stationary energy, waste and IPPU. Net emissions are gross emissions combined with the emissions and removals from the forestry sector. Greenhouse gases are reported as CO₂-e, which is a measure used for comparing greenhouse gases (such as CH₄, N₂O, carbon dioxide (CO₂)) based on the warming effect of each gas relative to an equivalent amount of CO₂. All emissions are based on 100-year global warming potential (GWP100) values with climate feedback from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Report.

16. In this annual update paper, emissions from transport, waste, agriculture, forestry, IPPU, and stationary energy were estimated, like the baseline inventory, using the Global Protocol for Community Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory methodology. The methodological approach provides a clear and structured framework for estimating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

17. Emission profiles of the territorial authorities (Napier City, Wairoa District, Central Hawke’s Bay District and Hastings District) and the region were estimated. This paper presents a summary of this project output for the financial year 2021-22, which was compared with the baseline emissions inventory to establish any changes in the emissions footprint for the individual territorial authorities.

18. The results presented in this paper are based on the baseline inventory but have been updated with the most recent activity data, emission factors and methodologies.

Regional emissions in 2021-2022

19. Total gross greenhouse gas emissions for the Hawke’s Bay region were 4,340 kt CO₂-e in 2021-22.

19.1. Agriculture contributed the most to the region’s gross emissions at 68%, followed by transport (21%) and stationary energy (8%).

19.2. Emissions from waste made up 2%, while the remaining 1% of gross emissions came from IPPU.

19.3. In terms of gases (t CO₂-e), biogenic CH₄ and N₂O, mostly from agriculture, accounted for almost 2/3^rd of the gross emissions (57% and 13% respectively). The rest of the emissions were made up of mostly CO₂ (28%) with small contributions from non-biogenic CH₄ (1%) and other gases (1%).

19.4. The five highest emission sources for Hawke’s Bay region are: enteric fermentation (54%), diesel and petrol use for transportation (17%), manure from grazing animals (8%), marine freight (4%) and other agricultural emissions (3%).

19.5. Regional greenhouse gas emissions split by sector and source are presented in the figures below.

A close-up of a graph

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20. Forests are both carbon sinks and sources. Plants remove CO₂from the atmosphere but also release CO₂ when harvested. Hawke’s Bay forests are a net carbon sink removing approximately 2/3^rd of the gross emissions.

21. Hawke’s Bay net emissions for the financial year 2021-22 are 1,489 kt CO₂-e.

Distinct district profiles

22. The emissions profiles of the territorial authorities exhibit notable differences. It is however important to note that each district differs in terms of population size, geographical features, and industrial operations.

22.1. Wairoa District is carbon positive. Forestry in Wairoa removed more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than emitted. Total net emissions for Wairoa District were -321 kt CO₂-e.

22.2. In Napier City, forestry is a source of emissions- this means carbon sequestered by the forest is less than that emitted during harvesting. The main source of emissions for Napier City is from the transport sector. Total net emissions for Napier City were 444 kt CO₂-e.

22.3. The emissions profile of Central Hawke’s Bay District indicates that agriculture is a significant contributor to the gross emissions and only a small amount of sequestration occurs through forestry. Total net emissions for Central Hawke’s Bay were 1,162 kt CO₂-e.

22.4. Hastings District emits high levels of greenhouse gases from agriculture, but also sequesters large amounts of CO₂ from its forestry sector. Total net emissions for Hastings District were 606 kt CO₂-e.

Changes since 2020-2021

23. Over the past four years, regional emissions have remained relatively stable. A 1% increase in total gross emissions is observed from 2020-21. As we move closer in time to the 2050 net zero regional carbon goal, greenhouse gas emissions have demonstrated little overall change.

24. Changes observed in 2021-2022 compared to 2020-2021:

24.1. Stationary energy decreased on average 20% for Hawke’s Bay, partly driven by a lower emissions intensity of the national grid.

24.2. Agriculture increased by 6% across the region, largely associated with increased sheep and non-dairy cattle numbers.

24.3. An 8% increase in transport emissions were observed for Wairoa District, partly driven by higher petrol and diesel sales during 2021-22.

24.4. Sequestration in Central Hawke’s Bay has increased by 57% since 2021-22, primarily due to a reduction in harvesting.

Conclusions

25. Hawke’s Bay region’s emission profile is unique as agriculture and transport together accounted for a significant amount of total gross emissions. Because of this, the majority of the region’s emissions are biogenic CH₄ and N₂O.

26. This 2021-2022 update to regional emissions shows that gross emissions are not reducing in line with the reductions needed to achieve the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

27. This suggests that for the region to transition to a lower emissions pathway, strong and difficult changes are required in the more challenging-to-reduce sectors of agriculture and transport. The updated inventory further reiterates the importance of targeting specific gases including high global warming potentials CH₄ and N₂O as the region embarks on its emissions reduction journey.

Next steps

28. Work has already begun to collect and analyse data to update the greenhouse gas inventory for the financial year 2022-23. We will continue to develop this to be presented to the Joint Committee before the end of the year, dependent on data acquisition. Data acquisition remains a major challenge. Obtaining sufficient, correct, and accurate activity data will likely remain a challenge without a collective effort from all stakeholders. Essentially, this highlights the importance of a collaborative approach in addressing the most valuable piece of any greenhouse gas inventory- data.

29. HBRC staff remain available to discuss and present this data to Partner Council staff and governors and mana whenua groups as useful and to discuss potential impact of emissions reductions actions.

30. The next full externally verified report is planned for the 2023-2024 inventory if provisions are allocated in Council Long Term Plan budgets (FY2025-26).

Decision-making process

31. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Climate Action Joint Committee receives and notes the Regional Community Carbon Footprint update staff report.

Authored by:

Nariefa Abrahim-Bennet

Senior Climate Scientist

Approved by:

Pippa Mckelvie-Sebileau

Climate Action Ambassador

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Regional Carbon Footprint - 2021-22

Climate Action Joint Committee

Monday 11 March 2024

Subject: Climate Action Plan: Risks And Opportunities

Reason for Report

1. This report summarises the risks and opportunities by priority domain identified by the Climate Action Technical Advisory Group (TAG) as a step towards agreeing actions and seeks direction from the Joint Committee about how to progress.

Background/Discussion

2. At its meeting on 11 December 2023 the Joint Committee endorsed the attached living Vision and Strategy. This was the culmination of two workshops independently facilitated by Karl Wixon.

3. Following this Joint Committee meeting, the Climate Action TAG workshopped the six priority domains to identify risks and opportunities. This workshop was designed and facilitated by Napier City Council staff on behalf of the TAG.

4. This was then written up into the present report prepared by Napier City and Hastings District Council staff and reviewed by staff from HBRC and CHBDC.

5. The six identified domains are:

5.1. Biodiversity

5.2. Primary Industry

5.3. Transport

5.4. Waimāori/Fresh water

5.5. Urban/Housing.

5.6. Waste

Biodiversity

6. There are threats posed to indigenous biodiversity by climate change and the greater probability of drought, flooding, and severe weather events in Hawke's Bay. Severe weather events are predicted to increase in intensity and magnitude, and this will impact on habitat availability and indigenous species. An accelerated changing climate will impact on biodiversity stressors such as increased competition, predation from tolerant and more resilient invasive species, isolation of already fragmented habitats and populations, and the disappearance of suitable conditions and habitats along with a reduction in connectivity. Climate change now adds to existing threats of habitat loss and invasive species and drives biodiversity decline by exacerbating them. In addition, the process of climate change is accelerated by biodiversity loss as degraded ecosystems have a reduced ability to absorb and store CO₂.

7. Staff have identified several key risks. The predominant risk is loss of biodiversity which is compounded by the pace of climate change, with effects accelerating faster than biodiversity restoration and protection work can respond to. There are also risks in the revise and reform of national policy direction which may seem as though some progress has stalled, or even reversed.

8. Of particular concern is our lack of understanding of how climate change will impact local biodiversity. We can infer impacts from international and national research, for example we expect the loss of some habitats as a result of erosion or saltwater egress into freshwater sources. However, we do not have local research to provide clarity on specific impacts. To make real progress in this space we need a better idea of the interaction between biodiversity and climate change at a local level. Research in this area would help to give us the knowledge we need and also empower our community to make good choices that both increase our biodiversity and protect it from the impacts of climate change.

9. Further risks include a potential lack of leadership in this space given the importance of the relationship with the primary sector. If there is no willingness to work together, we will not be able to achieve the biodiversity goals we need to, to ensure the future resilience of our indigenous flora and fauna. The cross over between the primary sector and biodiversity is an opportunity for relationship building, which will be the key to progress within both domains. In particular there is space to capitalize on public/private partnership to create new ways to improve biodiversity. Whether we work alongside the Biodiversity Trust or take the lead in this space there is an opportunity to create a sense of direction for our community and pride in our biodiversity. We should focus on setting clear goals and realistic actions that allow us to do what we can in the environment we are in and celebrate those successes while always striving for more.

Biodiversity opportunities

10. Ensure that biodiversity items feature on the Joint Committee agenda, bringing stories of biodiversity restoration to the committee.

11. Offer climate action / adaptation funds through Joint Committee, administered through an existing body that supports biodiversity which could be extended with community climate action fund (e.g. Sustainable HB Centre for Climate & Resilience/ HB Biodiversity Trust).

12. Research into the local impact of climate change on biodiversity.

13. Build biodiversity considerations into our planning decisions – this is a space the Joint Committee could advocate in back to the TLAs/HBRC.

14. Support a high profile anchor project, for example, biodiversity corridors to connect our region, ensure flora and fauna can retreat/adapt and create opportunities for tourism – something that makes us stand out.

15. Promote, build awareness and celebrate existing partnership programmes to improve biodiversity on rural/farming land including pest management.

16. Map the current projects in this space and identify gaps.

Primary Industry

17. The effects of climate change on our primary industries will be significant. Climate change will affect what and how much can be grown or harvested across Hawke’s Bay. Increasingly unpredictable weather will impact production with more (production) in some years and less in others. Increased variability in weather patterns resulting in higher rainfall events will increase the effects of erosion, increasing sediment in waterways, with soil loss damaging soil stability and reducing productivity. Weather impacts may also increase frequency of extreme dry weather events, leading to increased production (lower and variable) risks, arrival of new and novel pests in the form of plant and animal diseases.

18. The primary sector is a major contributor to the Hawke’s Bay economy, in terms of its economic contribution through export earnings, employment and contribution to the social fabric of the community. Therefore, climate action is targeting adaptation as opposed to elimination strategies. Successful adaptation will require in depth understanding not only of the impacts, but also risk management implications, decisions that need to be made to reduce exposure to this risks and effective ways to motivate action by primary producers.

Primary industry opportunities

19. Climate change preparedness and adaptation.

20. Education – existing climate change adaptation practices.

21. Community engagement to build understanding and identify community led practice change.

22. An integrated approach to catchment and community management – erosion control, wetland construction, biodiversity.

23. Increased land use diversification – planting trees, forest farming, integrated systems, new horticultural systems that adapt to a changing climate, land for life etc.

24. Research – using existing knowledge to identify new research.

25. Targeting at risk systems and identifying change options.

26. Co-benefit opportunities in reducing burning which reduces emissions and improves air quality (composting).

Transport

27. Staff considered that a key risk in transport is the competing goals between transport resiliency, transport efficiency, cost and safety, while also reducing emissions, which is no longer a priority area for the coalition-led government. Efficiency is essential to our system but we also need to reduce emissions and the expectation is that most emission reductions in the immediately future will come from transport. Post cyclone with all the damage to our roading infrastructure it is unlikely that new public and active transport measures will be priorities. It is a difficult balance to ensure that our infrastructure is fit for current use patterns and also responsive to changes in use over the next 20 years. There Regional Land Transport Committee made up of representatives from across the region leads in this space, following national policy direction. The Joint Committee has an advisory role to the RLTC and has in the past collaborated on a proposed table of emissions reduction actions in transport. Maintaining a climate lens and continuously advocating for climate action will be important over the next period of infrastructure and resiliency focus.

28. However, on top of advocating for smart sustainable and future-proofed options for transport in Hawke’s Bay there is also space to support innovation in the transport space.

Transport opportunities

29. Supporting innovation and acting as a connector between the public and private sector (an example is the carpooling app).

30. District profiles differ and for urban areas, transport is the biggest emitter (e.g. Napier).

31. Advocating for and celebrating alternative modes of transport including regional rail.

32. Encouraging urban form considerations when taking action in the transport space.

33. Co-benefits for health and air quality.

34. Regional green hydrogen development.

35. Advocating for climate action to the Regional Land Transport Committee and each Council.

36. Utilising & refreshing the list of transport actions as endorsed and prioritised by Regional Land Transport Committee in August 2023.

Waimāori /freshwater

37. Significant risk for this pou is that there will be periods of too much water that has to be managed through nature-based solutions or engineered solutions to mitigate flood risk; as well as periods with not enough water. This includes water availability and quality under climate change and how the water is equitably allocated for environmental, human and consumptive purposes. The regional water assessment published last year documents the water security challenges facing the region, changes to national policy for water, and projected water supply and use in the next 50 years.

38. Climate change in Hawke's Bay is predicted to result in higher annual mean temperatures, more hot days and fewer frost days. Rainfall patterns are expected to change, with more extreme rainfall events and longer dry periods, more rain in winter and less in spring, and more droughts. Sea level rise will impact use of some coastal land, whether through gradual inundation of low-lying land, greater frequency of coastal flooding events, exacerbation of shoreline erosion or saltwater intrusion to lowland rivers and nearby aquifers.

39. Staff identified that one of the key risks in this space as the different perspectives on water use and protection. However, this challenge is also what creates the opportunities in this space. For us to make genuine progress as a region we need to find a way to move forward together. Water is essential to all of us and there is an opportunity here to challenge our perspectives. With support of mana whenua on the committee we could lead in this space, especially while there is uncertainty and delay in the three waters space.

Waimāori /freshwater opportunities

40. Utilise the information provided in the 50-year Regional Water Assessment completed in 2023 to inform the climate action plan.

41. Provide leadership in the gap that three waters leaves.

42. Work alongside mana whenua and the primary sector to find innovative solutions and mediate conversations: clear links to biodiversity and primary sector pou.

Urban/Housing

43. Staff identified that there is a difficult balance to strike between providing enough housing that also works for everyone and ensuring the housing is resilient to a changing climate future. The impact of climate change on the risk from natural hazards combined with the need to coordinate across multiple councils to ensure consistency and reduce costs creates both risks and opportunities. While the Future Development Strategy leads where development goes in Napier and Hastings there is plenty of space for the joint committee to investigate multi-risk assessments across the region and use this information to guide resilient development decisions.

Urban/Housing opportunities

44. Region-wide multi-hazard risk assessments.

45. Energy-efficient homes that provide health benefits, reduce emissions and reduce costs for residents.

46. Co-benefits for health, air quality and cost of living.

47. Supporting and guiding a region-wide approach to hazard management in future development.

48. Encourage and advocate for intensification of already developed areas and sponge cities (this action supports the waimāori and biodiversity pou, as well as protecting rural land).

49. Advocate for green star ratings for new buildings.

50. Planning improvements to include sustainability actions like solar panels, water retention.

Waste

51. While waste emissions are a small sector in the regional emissions profile, this is a sector where real reductions can be made that are cost-effective and appealing to the wider community. Individual actions and council services can play a big role in changing consumption and waste behaviour encouraging a more circular economy and enhancing overall environmental and social outcomes.

52. In the Napier-Hastings area the Waste Management and Minimisation Committee leads waste reduction measures and education. The Climate Action Joint Committee should support the work of this committee and advocate for actions that will reduce emissions and build resilience such as gas capture.

Waste opportunities

53. Support the direction of the Waste Management and Minimisation Joint Committee and leverage our position to advocate for waste reduction measures.

54. Partnerships between groups – e.g. transport of Wairoa landfill material to Hastings where there is methane capture at the landfill.

55. Individual waste reduction actions act as doorways to other climate action.

56. Waste reduction linked to food production.

57. Area where individuals can take immediate, cost free action.

58. Reducing waste reducing other environmental micropollutants.

Decision-making process

59. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendations

That Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Climate Action Plan: Risks and Opportunities staff report.

2. Provides feedback on the opportunities presented for each of the six the priority domains.

Authored by:

Heather Bosselmann

SENIOR POLICY ANALYST

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Climate Action Joint Committee Living Vision and Strategy

[1] Ministry for the Environment. 2022. National adaptation plan and emissions reduction plan: Resource management Act 1991. Guidance note. https://environment.govt.nz/assets/publications/national-adaptation-plan-and-emissions-reduction-plan-guidance-note.pdf