Climate Change - Communities for Climate Protection

Wellington City Council joined the Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand (CCP-NZ) programme in August 2004.

Communities for Climate Protection is a voluntary programme that supports local government efforts towards sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality in their own communities.

The CCP programme advises on how to:

• develop policy to protect the environment
• implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• monitor and measure progress
• report on results.

Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand website

ICLEI - Oceania

More than 800 local governments participate in the CCP programme which is administered by an international organisation of local governments, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).

The New Zealand Government endorses the CCP campaign.

The Council supports the New Zealand headquarters of ICLEI - Oceania which has been based in Wellington since December 2007.

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - Oceania website

Municipal Sustainability

Wellington is in a strong position to be a global leader in municipal sustainability.

Contributing factors include:

• the city's compact nature
• urban growth policies
• travel management initiatives
• the Regional Council's new investment in public transport infrastructure

Increasing fuel costs should ensure Wellington's strong performance in transportation will continue.

Wellington is one of few world capitals that could meet all electricity demands from renewable sources in the medium-term (by 2020).

CCP Programme

By joining CCP-NZ, Wellington City Council committed to:

• assessing greenhouse gas emissions from the Council and community
• setting a goal for reduced emissions
• establishing a local action plan
• implementing the plan and measuring its benefits
• monitoring and reporting on progress.

Under the CCP programme, the Council will work towards finding locally-designed initiatives that provide effective and cost-efficient ways to achieve sustainability.

Reduction Targets

In June 2006 the Council set targets for its own operations, and draft targets for the community sector.

In December 2007, the Council set a goal of 2012 for carbon neutrality of its own operations, and revised the emissions reduction targets. The new reduction targets are informed by global research and national policy.

The Council will consult on these targets through the 2008/09 Draft Annual Plan, and each review of the Long Term Council Community Plan as progress is made with reducing emissions.

• Council Targets

	Base Year	2010	2020	2050
June 2006 Targets	2003	stabilise	20%	-
Current Targets	2003	stabilise	40%	80%

• Community Targets

	Base Year	2010	2020	2050
Draft 2006 Targets	2003	stabilise	10%	-
Current Targets	2003	stabilise	30%	80%

Production of Emissions

A breakdown of how greenhouse gas emissions are generated shows:

• Council:
  • Electricity and natural gas - 75 percent
  • Petrol, diesel, waste and air travel - 25 percent
• Community:
  • electricity, coal and natural gas consumption - 48 percent
  • petrol and diesel consumption - 33 percent
  • landfill methane - 19 percent.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (101Kb PDF)

Local Action Plan - Energy Management

The Council has developed an energy management programme for its internal operations. The Local Action Plan for Energy Management and Climate Change is aimed at conserving energy, becoming more energy efficient, and using more renewable-energy technology.

Local Action Plan for Energy Management and Climate Change 2007 (137Kb PDF)

Related Links

• Environmental Strategy (290Kb PDF)
• Committee Report - Joining Communities for Climate Protection (119Kb PDF)
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (101Kb PDF)
• Local Action Plan for Energy Management and Climate Change 2007 (137Kb PDF)
• News Release - 13.12.07
• Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand website
• International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - Oceania website

Department Details:
Policy