The Climate Change Commission’s 2021 report includes a number of recommendations for central and local government to work together on reducing New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. These improvements to legislation, funding, and public...
Taking action to reduce and offset emissions is top of mind for councils around New Zealand. However, they can only do so much on their own, and also need businesses to transition to a low carbon economy. Three reasons why businesses may resist this message are: not...
Many New Zealand councils have made a climate emergency declaration as they recognise the need to urgently implement solutions to climate change over the next 10 years. So far Christchurch, Nelson, Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, Kāpiti Coast, Wellington and Dunedin councils...
The Long-Term Plan cycle sure comes around quickly! It feels like we just finished the last one, but now it’s time to think how councils can improve on their 2018 infrastructure strategies for the 2021 Long-Term Plan (LTP). I was involved in writing three...
The complexity of climate change, as well as the unpredictable rate of change, can be overwhelming when considering how to respond to these challenges at a district or a regional level. Fortunately, the next infrastructure strategies and asset management plans...
I love reading a book in one big gulp during the summer holidays. My favourite this year was ‘Unsheltered’ by Barbara Kingsolver. The present-day story is about a family dealing with the fall out of a number of shocks related to their family, their careers, financial...