Minutes of Climate Action Joint Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies

The Chair, NCC Councillor Hayley Browne, welcomed everyone, particularly new members in attendance, and opened the meeting with a karakia.

Resolution

CAJCC12/24 That the apologies for absence from councillors Annette Brosnan and Juliet Grieg, Robbie Paul and Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst be accepted.

Kelly/Harding

CARRIED

2. Conflict of interest declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

HDC Councillor Tania Kerr and HBRC Councillor Xan Harding declared an interest as Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Trust board members.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Climate Action Joint Committee meeting held on 11 March 2024

CAJCC13/24

Resolution

Minutes of the Climate Action Joint Committee meeting held on Monday, 11 March 2024, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record as amended.

Harding/Walker

CARRIED

Nikki Kirikiri joined the meeting online at 2.16pm.

Committee Leadership and Terms of Reference amendments

Desiree Cull introduced the item, which was taken as read, and discussions covered:

· The amendments reflect changes in legislation, personnel, and procedures and are minimal due to the proximity to the 2025 triennial local government election.

· Clause 5 allows the HBRC Chair to nominate another HBRC joint committee member to be appointed as chair.

· The rationale for HBRC retaining the chairmanship of the joint committee is its regional mandate and role as the administering authority as well as providing dedicated staff and resources.

· It was suggested that the chairmanship arrangement in the TOR be reviewed at the beginning of the next triennium, after the local government elections, along with the rest of the terms of reference.

· The group expressed appreciation for Councillor Ormsby's work as the chair.

CAJCC14/24

Resolutions

That the Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Committee Leadership and Terms of Reference Amendments staff report.

2. Recommends the following amended Terms of Reference to each of the member councils for adoption.

3. Appoints Councillor Xan Harding as the Chair of the Climate Action Joint Committee.

Ormsby/Browne

CARRIED

Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment

Desire Cull introduced Amberley Gibson who introduced the item. Amberly is 7-weeks into the job of Climate Change Lead Strategic Advisor (previously the Climate Change Ambassador role). She joins HBRC from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) where she led the first National Adaptation Plan. Her experience and knowledge will be a valuable asset to the Joint Committee. Discussions included:

· The importance of a regional climate change risk assessment as a foundational piece for understanding climate risks and prioritising adaption actions.

· Discussed the comprehensive nature of the assessment, which goes beyond natural hazard mapping, and assesses a range of risks including social, cultural & economic.

· The need for both quantitative and qualitative data in the assessment process, and that in a typical climate change risk assessment focus is paid particularly to the following three interrelated categories.

· A risk assessment process can assess both direct risks & impacts and how these can lead indirectly to cascading or compounding risks.

· This been demonstrated by the direct impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle and its continued cascading harm to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of the HB region.

· The need for a quick, high-level risk assessment to inform prioritization and action.

· Balancing the need for robust data with the urgency to act.

· Suggestions to use existing models from other regions to accelerate the process.

· The importance of making the assessment results public-facing and easily digestible.

· Concerns about the triggering nature of the term "risk assessment" for communities already impacted by climate events.

· Ensuring the use cases are well understood, of which Tom Skerman has been contracted to assist in documenting.

· The Joint Committee requested that the TAG take a two-phased approach: a quick, high-level assessment followed by more detailed analysis where needed.

CAJCC15/24

Resolutions

That the Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and notes the Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment staff report.

2. Requests that the Technical Advisory Group proceed with work to produce the first regional climate risk assessment at pace, as a starting point for future work and based on existing data.

Kerr/Aitken

CARRIED

Regional Climate Action work programme and funding update

Amberley Gibson introduced the item and discussions included:

· The work programme is organised into four complementary workstreams.

· Workstream 1 consumes most of the funding.

· Concerns were raised about insufficient funds and inequity in funding split.

· There may be potential to use existing work to accelerate progress.

· The Joint Committee agreed to an adjustment of the timeline for the risk assessment work to proceed.

CAJCC16/24

Resolutions

That the Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Regional Climate Action work programme and funding update staff report.

2. Endorses the Climate Action Work Programme -September 24 to October 25 - subject to the changes discussed today.

Kerr/Walker

CARRIED

Councillor Di Roadley and Mayor Alex Walker left the meeting at 3:50pm.

The meeting adjourned at 3.50pm and reconvened at 4pm

Update on key National work programmes on Climate Change

Amberley Gibson introduced Gavin Ide who provided the update and spoke to a wiring diagram slide. Discussions included.

· Recent activities of the Climate Change Commission, its statutory responsibilities and how it interacts with the rest of central government.

· Updates on the government's climate change adaptation work and the national Emissions Reduction Plan as detailed in the agenda.

· It was noted that the Parliament’s Finance & Expenditures Select Committee inquiry into the objectives and principles of climate change adaptation report has been delayed to October.

· The HBRC submission on the MfE consultation discussion document for ERP2 is available online.

· The importance of staying informed about national initiatives while focusing on local needs and actions was stressed.

· Concern was raised about the potential for conflicting directions between local and central government approaches, which professional and political networks can help to reduce or mitigate.

CAJCC17/24

Resolutions

That the Climate Action Joint Committee receives and notes the Update on key national work programmes on climate change staff report.

Montaperto-Hendry/Aitken

CARRIED

Advocating for Climate Action - Climate Action Initiatives

Amberley Gibson introduced the item and discussion included:

· It was suggested that TAG should focus on high-impact and tangible regional climate initiatives.

· Considering staff capacity constraints there is a need for focus on the key workstreams as outlined in item 5.

· The intent is for the Joint Committee to use the list as a tool for members to prioritise and drive action themselves, as well as a way of keeping informed of regional developments.

· It was clarified that the initiatives on the list are a starting point for discussion and no cost-benefit analyses have been carried out by staff.

· The list is intended to be a ‘living’ document and will be updated and regularly shared with the Joint Committee.

CAJCC18/24

Resolutions

That the Climate Action Joint Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Advocating for climate action - climate action initiatives staff report.

2. Notes that the list of climate initiatives has been provided to support the Joint Committee members to advocate and support climate action, and that it is a living list that will be updated and regularly shared with Joint Committee members for their information.

Harding/Kerr

CARRIED

Deputation - Regional Energy Transitions Accelerator (RETA) Programme

Amberley Gibson introduced Oliver Howitt from EECA, whose presentation and discussion covered:

· Overview of energy use and emissions by large industrial sized users in the Hawke's Bay region.

· Analysis of decarbonisation opportunities for large industrial sites.

· Note that 44 industrial sites use 90% of the natural gas in the region.

· A high-level overview of the 55 decarbonisation projects across these 44 industrial sites.

· Currently the most economically viable decarbonisation projects for these sites (even without assuming a price on carbon) is demand reduction and installing heat pumps.

· Economic modelling of fuel-switching projects, with biomass emerging as the favoured option.

· Assessment of the potential biomass supply in the region, which is, on balance, modelled to be economically favourable.

· Emphasis on the need for collaboration between demand and supply sides to create a viable biomass supply chain.

· Current gas prices will likely help the conversion to biomass in an economically efficient way.

· There is a need for infrastructure development and collaboration to realise the potential.

· That the Hawke’s Bay hospital is included in the assessment of large industrial sites that have been modelled.

· Examples of successful biomass ecosystems in other regions of New Zealand include Port Blakely in South Canterbury (which uses the residual biomass from their forests) and Pine Energy in Southland.

· European biomass models (while impressive) are not easily transferable to a Hawke’s Bay regional context because central governments usually directly own the forestry assets and can mandate how they are used.

· The Joint Committee is interested in potentially advocating for and championing the development of a biomass ecosystem in Hawke's Bay.

CAJCC19/24

Resolution

That the Climate Action Joint Committee receives and notes the Deputation - Regional Energy Transitions Accelerator Programme.

Kerr/Harding

CARRIED

Xan Harding led the meeting in closing with a karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Acting Chair declared the meeting closed at 5.00pm on Monday 26 August 2024.

Signed as a true and correct record.

Date: ................................................ Chair: ...............................................