Climate Change Project Updates

 Previous Updates

28 October 2021 - New interactive energy management platform launches

A new interactive platform launched by Whakatāne District Council will publicly showcase the results from its ongoing energy management programme. This energy management programme was introduced after an audit in 2018 identified approximately 26 percent of Council emissions were attributed to electricity and natural gas use, with 11 specific Council sites and facilities contributing to the majority of the Council’s energy use. The programme is run in collaboration with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Council’s energy management contractor, EMSOL.

Read the full media release | Energy Management Programme

17 August 2021 - Council honoured to receive Trust Horizon Sustainability Award

Whakatāne District Council elected members and staff are thrilled to have been awarded the inaugural Trust Horizon Sustainability Award at the Horizon Energy Group Business Excellence Awards on Saturday evening.

The organisation’s entry focused on the results of an energy management programme, introduced after an energy audit in 2018 identified approximately 26 percent of Council emissions were attributed to electricity and natural gas use, with 11 specific Council sites and facilities contributing the majority of the Council’s energy use. The energy management programme is is run in collaboration with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Council’s energy management contractor EMSOL. 

Read the full media release »

6 April 2021 - Council's climate change actions making an impact

Two case studies that highlight the success of different climate change-related projects were presented at the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting last week. The first case study explains how a unique method to wrap pallets has negated the need for layers of plastic. The second focuses on water pump replacements in Murupara and Otakiri, with the new, higher-efficiency pumps significantly reducing electricity use.

Read the full media release »

23 February 2021 - First set of climate change reporting celebrated

The first round of Whakatāne District Council’s climate change project reporting was well-received at the Organisational Performance Committee meeting held last week. The report captures progress made towards the targets and actions outlined in the climate change strategy and actions plans, which were adopted in September 2020.

Read the full media release »

6 October 2020 - Climate change plans now in action

Whakatāne District Council formally adopted its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans, in a Strategy and Policy Committee meeting last week.

Read the full media release »

4 August 2020 - Feedback open for climate change actions and targets

Starting this week, Whakatāne District Council seeks feedback on its draft climate change strategy and action plans. The documents are based on earlier feedback from the community, and follow international and national best-practice. The documents are guided by an aspirational vision and include specific, measurable targets.

Read the full media release | Kōrero Mai - Let's Talk »

16 July 2020 - Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans a significant step forward

The Strategy and Policy Committee approved the draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans for community consultation at a meeting held this week.

Following the adoption of a set of climate change principles in 2019, the strategy and action plans are designed to set a clear vision and targets for Whakatāne District Council. This will ensure a strategic approach to climate change is taken by the organisation, and also across the wider district.

Read the full media release »

15 July 2020

Report to the Strategy and Policy Committee - 'Draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans for Community Consultation’

• View the agenda »

26 February 2020 - Tangible results for climate change initiatives in Whakatāne District

Whakatāne District Council is forging ahead after a set of seven Climate Change Principles were adopted last year following a community engagement programme. The seven principles are designed to guide all Council’s future decision-making processes, and provide a framework to work through the opportunities and challenges climate change presents for the Whakatāne District.

Read the full media release »

20 February 2020

A range of projects are underway to embed the Council's Climate Change Principles into planning and decision-making processes. This will ensure that climate change is considered in all projects and proposals going forward.

The first change is the development of a new agenda template for Council reports, incorporating a climate change analysis, which will be introduced for future meetings. Community, stakeholder, and partner feedback received through engagement on the Principles in 2019 is informing several streams of work including the development of a Climate Change Strategy.

Work also continues to monitor and reduce the Council's greenhouse gas emissions. The organisation is working towards recertification for 2018/19 with Toitū’s carbonreduce® programme (previously known as CEMARS). Opportunities to reduce energy use and associated emissions are also being pursued through an Energy Management Programme.

More information on this update can be found as a separate report on the agenda of the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting - (PDF, 15.31 MB).

18 September 2019

Report to the Whakatāne District Council - 'Proposed Climate Change Principles based on feedback received.'

• View the agenda »

20 November 2019

On 18 September 2019, the Council adopted a set of Climate Change Principles. The intention is that the Principles will guide Council's future decision-making and provide a framework to work through challenges and opportunities that climate change presents for the Whakatāne District. 

The Principles incorporate community feedback received through engagement activities in August and September 2019. The goal of the engagement was to provide a variety of feedback opportunities across the District, and in particular to capture the thoughts of rangatahi. Information about the draft Principles was shared through media, community newsletters, and letters to key stakeholders. Council staff and elected members also attended events and meetings and facilitated a series of school workshops. It is estimated that about 800 people were directly involved in engagement initiatives. 

Over 1,100 points of feedback were received on the Principles through the engagement activities and other events including the School Strikes for Climate. The Climate Change Principles incorporate a range of this feedback, and the feedback will also be used to inform the development of future climate change-related projects. This will include a Climate Change Strategy with emission reduction targets, and Climate Change Action Plans. Further community engagement and collaboration will be a key part of work going forward. Particular focus areas will be partnering with iwi, and working with rangatahi through the Whakatāne District Youth Council and other groups.

Work is now underway to embed the Climate Change Principles into the Council’s decision-making processes to ensure climate change is a consideration in all projects and proposals. Recruitment has also commenced to employ a dedicated climate change Strategic Coordinator for the remainder of the financial year, based on the budget allocated through the Annual Plan 2019/2020.

15 August 2019

On 11 July 2019, the Policy Committee adopted a draft set of Climate Change Principles as the basis for consultation with the community. Engagement on these Principles is underway, and will continue until 30 August 2019. Feedback on the draft Principles has been encouraged through a range of media outlets, as well as events and meetings throughout the District including the Beacon Business and Leisure Show on 10 and 11 August 2019. Further events are planned for the remainder of August 2019, including drop-in sessions at Te Kōputu a Te Whanga a Toi and a workshop at Murupara Area School. Feedback received will be collated and incorporated into a final set of Climate Change Principles, which will be included for adoption at the Council meeting on 18 September 2019. 

Once adopted, the Principles will form the core of a Climate Change Strategy, which will provide a framework ensuring that Climate Change is considered in all of Council’s work and decision-making. Action Plans to support both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change will be developed to support the Strategy, based on work streams already underway as part of the Climate Change Project. 

11 July 2019

Report to the Policy Committee - ‘Draft Climate Change Principles and Submission to the Climate Change Amendment Bill.’

• View the agenda »

27 June 2019

A draft Climate Change Strategy for Whakatāne District Council is being developed, with a set of Climate Change Principles forming the core of the document. The Strategy will provide a framework for Council’s work and decision-making. 

The intention is for the draft Climate Change Strategy to be considered by the Policy Committee on 11 July 2019, followed by a period of public engagement and consultation. A final Strategy, incorporating feedback received from the community, would be presented to the Policy Committee for adoption on 29 August 2019. Action Plans to support both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change would be developed to support the Strategy, based on work streams already underway as part of the Climate Change Project.

23 May 2019

Report to the Policy Committee - ‘Climate Change Project Update May 2019.’

• View the agenda »

9 May 2019

A draft set of Climate Change Principles for the organisation has been developed, incorporating feedback received from Council in February 2019. The principles will inform ongoing community conversations and be incorporated into key Council documents and decision-making processes. 

Council has been running an online climate change survey since the end of March 2019. The results of this survey will be provided at the Policy Committee meeting in May 2019.

Work is underway to coordinate a response to the Council’s Energy Audit recommendations, and to progress opportunities to reduce the organisation’s carbon emissions, as measured through the CEMARS (Certified Emissions Management and Reduction Scheme) programme. The Council’s CEMARS audit was completed on 2 April 2019. As part of the audit, the Council was required to develop an Emissions Measurement and Reduction Plan (EMRP) for the base year. This plan has been developed, with actions mostly focusing on investigating opportunities for emission reduction, now that the organisation has audited baseline data. The plan is required to be updated and resubmitted next year (being year 1 of the three-year certification cycle). This will provide the opportunity to review targets, for discussion with the community, before resubmitting the plan.

21 March 2019

A set of draft Climate Change Principles are being developed for Council’s consideration, based on input from the Councillors in late-February 2019. These principles are based on the Local Government New Zealand Leader’s Climate Change Declaration, which the Council signed in 2017. The intention is for a set of draft Climate Change Principles to be adopted by the Council, to inform decision-making and community engagement and consultation on climate change. 

Auditors from CEMARS will be on-site on 2 and 3 April 2019 to verify Council's carbon emission data, which will feed into organisational carbon emission reduction targets for consideration by Council at a future meeting.

Council has been working with EnviroHub to support Sustainable Backyards 2019, a month-long sustainability event, which has the theme of Climate Change. A range of talks, workshops and other events are taking place across the District, with a pop-up hub situated in Wharaurangi.

26 February 2019

Report to the Policy Committee - ‘Climate Change Project Update February 2019.’

• View the agenda »

7 February 2019

There are a number of workstreams progressing under the Climate Change project. Data gathering for the CEMARS audit, which will identify Council’s carbon footprint for 2017/18, is nearly complete. This will be followed by a formal audit verification process, at which point, a report on organisational carbon emission reduction targets will be brought back to Council for consideration. The Energy Audit undertaken was reported back to staff on 30 January and staff are now looking at how we can implement the recommendations from the audit to reduce energy use, Council costs and carbon emissions. The final report will be provided to Council.

The Climate Change Project Team and Steering Group have developed some draft Climate Change Principles to help guide Council decision-making. These will be workshopped by a wider staff group, before being brought to Council for consideration at the 26 February Policy Committee meeting. It is envisaged that community engagement on these principles will be undertaken during March.
Council is partnering with EnviroHub and other Bay of Plenty Councils to deliver Sustainable Back Yards (an annual, month-long sustainability event, which this year has the theme of Climate Change) in the month of March. This presents an opportunity to work in partnership with others to begin the Climate Change conversation with the community. Various events, celebrations and workshops are being planned, as well as a pop-up hub situated in Wharaurangi throughout the month.

Further details are still being worked through, but the intention is to deliver a programme of engagement that reaches various sectors of our community, including events around the District.

15 November 2018

The Climate Change Project Team is looking at undertaking a collaborative engagement process with the community to inform discussion, raise awareness, highlight the local implications and engage with the community on potential solutions. It is proposed that this collaborative process will occur in partnership with key stakeholders.

The Climate Change Project Team has workshopped draft Climate Change Principles, which will then be discussed at a Policy Committee meeting. The intention is that the principles will reflect community views, be incorporated into key documents, inform future projects and decision-making, and ensure that consideration of climate change is embedded into all levels of the organisation. A paper will be brought to the Policy Committee on 29 November.

Collaboration across the Bay of Plenty is continuing through COBOP, with staff involved in working groups focusing on engagement and education; and policy and planning.

4 October 2018

The inter-department Climate Change Project Team has met to scope work going forward, and to propose a draft work plan to the Steering Group. Work continues on the Council’s energy audit and CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme) programme. Elected Members and Staff have attended various national and regional hui on Climate Change, including an LGNZ symposium, Ministry for the Environment roadshow and an Inspiring Stories workshop. Collaboration across the Bay is also continuing through COBOP, with working groups established to focus on engagement & education, and policy & planning.

16 August 2018

An inter-departmental Climate Change Project Team has been established. The team is being guided by a Steering Group to inform the development of the Council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and associated action plans. The project team has worked through initial considerations for a set of organisation-wide Climate Change Principles. The intention is that these principles will be further developed and adopted by the Council, to feed into future projects and decisions across Council activities.

The Council’s energy audit is underway, with findings and recommendations expected to feed into a revised Energy Action Plan. The Council is now a member of Enviro-Mark’s CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme) programme, and has been working to provide CEMARS with the data required to establish a carbon footprint for the organisation. This will allow the Council to understand and measure carbon emissions and manage them going forward.

At the 12 July Policy Committee meeting, Meridian presented a proposal on the feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic panels on Council facilities. The Committee resolved that due diligence should be undertaken on the proposal, to assess any financial and building structure implications. The outcomes will be reported back to the Council, together with implementation recommendations.

28 June 2018

A Project Plan, including team structure, has been developed to guide the review and expansion of Council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and the review and development of 5 action plans. These will incorporate both Climate Change Mitigation and adaptation.

The Council has been working in collaboration with Meridian on a joint study to identify the feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic panels on Council facilities. Note this topic has a separate report on the July Policy Committee agenda.

In addition, Council has commenced an Energy Audit, with funding from EECA. EMSOL have been commissioned to undertake this work, and the findings will feed into Council’s Energy Action Plan, with recommendations for future energy reduction and cost-saving proposals.

10 May 2018

Our climate change project has now been informed by discussions with staff and elected members from other New Zealand councils. The discussions have provided some valuable learnings, confirming that while councils have various drivers, and are at different stages in terms of their responses to climate change, this is presently a key area of focus for many in local government.
Several councils are members of certified energy or carbon reduction schemes, and to various degrees, are working to reduce their energy use and/or carbon emissions. Benefits of being part of a certified programme have been discussed with a number of councils, with many appreciating the ability to base energy and carbon reduction targets on reliable baseline data. Some staff mentioned that being part of a reputable external organisation provided a level of comfort, both internally and for the public, that data being reported was valid, and that the organisation was making a real commitment to carbon emission reduction.

It is anticipated that the Whakatāne District Council will complete an energy audit, which will be partially funded by EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority). Proposals have been sought from two Bay of Plenty providers which are accredited EECA partners. An energy audit will provide the Council with a good understanding of areas with the highest energy consumption, and recommendations for how to reduce energy use. The audit will also provide baseline data for energy reduction target-setting, and monitoring.

In addition to the energy audit proposals, a proposal has also been sought from the Enviro-Mark CEMARS programme, which would enable the Council to track, assess and report on the organisation’s carbon emissions.

5 April 2018

Report to the Policy Committee - ‘Climate Change Project Update.’

• View the agenda »

19 March 2018

The Climate Change Action Plan project has been focusing on determining background data to inform future action. This includes gathering information regarding national and international best practice; and gaining a thorough understanding of the current situation for our District, identifying current internal knowledge and alignment with projects, and defining information gaps. The next stage of the project will involve filling the information gaps and identifying priority areas and a strategic approach to addressing the two key project objectives of reducing carbon emissions and adapting to a changing climate.

By the end of March 2018, it is proposed that the project will have delivered the following outputs:

• Staff/Elected Member visit(s) finalised to Councils able to provide valuable, relevant learnings.
• Research into options, and likely recommending an internationally-recognised environmental certification (e.g. Enviromark) that can monitor our organisation’s operations and set reduction targets, where appropriate.
• A thorough picture of what Council is already doing, and additional or alternative best practice for us to consider.
• Information to inform the development of an Action Plan, including identified priorities.
• Clearly-identified ‘quick-wins’, including some easy to instigate, low-cost initiatives that can be delivered quickly.

An update will be provided to the Policy Committee meeting on 5 April 2018.

1 February 2018

The Council has approved a project to develop a Climate Change Action Plan. This project will work collaboratively with work being undertaken regionally and nationally, as well as recognise the work the local community are spearheading around sustainability.

The Action Plan is proposed to cover both ‘adapting to the effects of climate change’, and ‘mitigating the cause of climate change by reducing carbon emissions’. The Action plan will be staged to identify the easy wins and highest impact opportunities to be addressed first, and then to extend larger-scale initiatives. The proposal is to work collaboratively with other agencies and key stakeholders in the District to develop the plan. The Action Plan development process will also include a review of the Council’s Sustainability Strategy.

14 December 2017

Report to the Whakatāne District Council ‘ ‘Climate Change Action Plan Proposal.

• View the agenda »

21 November 2017

Staff are working in collaboration with Collaboration Bay of Plenty, through the Environmental Cluster Group, to identify a Bay-wide, coordinated response to the Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration 2017. Two work-streams underway in this area include: a collaborative project with the Sustainable Business Network and Toi Ohomai around sustainable procurement practices; and the development of a carbon footprint for the District, in conjunction with BOPRC.

A revision of the Council’s Sustainability Strategy is underway and following the Council decisions on 31 October, the revised strategy will undergo a focus group review.  

19 October 2017

Work is underway to identify the appropriate Council action in response to the Mayor and 50 other Mayors and Chairs signing the Local Government Leaders Climate Change Declaration 2017. Staff are working in collaboration with COBOP through the Environmental Cluster Group to identify a Bay-wide coordinated response. Two workstreams underway in this area include; a collaborative project with Sustainable Business Network and Toi Ohomai around sustainable procurement practices; and a carbon footprint for the District being developed in conjunction with BOPRC.