Landscape over the plains with southern alps in the background

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues faced by central and local governments worldwide. It is internationally accepted that the climate is changing due to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – with changes observed at global and regional levels.

The likely future impacts of climate change will be significantly affected by global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, some changes are unavoidable. A recent report from the Ministry for the Environment highlights that some impacts are already being experienced across Aotearoa New Zealand.

In Selwyn, research shows [PDF, 16.9MB]:

  • Under a mid-range emission scenario, through to 2050 annual average temperatures may be between 0.5-1.5°C warmer (compared with the average temperatures during the period 1986-2005). Between 2050-2100, under a more business-as-usual scenario, this range could increase to between 1.5-3.5°C.
  • The annual number of hot days (maximum temperature 25°C and above) is projected to increase by 10-20 days through to 2050 and between 10-60 days by the end of the century.
  • Conversely, the number of frost days each year (minimum temperature 0°C and below) is projected to decrease by 10-30 days for inland parts of the district. By 2100, this decrease may be more like 20-50 days. Similarly, the annual number of snow days is projected to decrease with the largest reductions of the order of 10-25 days in higher elevations.
  • Annual rainfall is projected to only change moderately, but winter rainfall is projected to increase considerably through to 2100 in many eastern, western and southern parts, with 15-40% more rainfall under a high emission scenario.
  • In the last 60 years, sea levels have risen by 2.44mm per year (0.14m total). If global emissions remain high, sea levels will increase by a further 0.21m by 2050 and 0.67m by 2100. Extreme sea level events that are historically rare will become common by 2100 under all scenarios.
  • With sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion into coastal and surface waters and soils is expected to be more frequent and enter farther inwards. This may result in Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere needing to be opened more often or managed under a new operating range. If global emissions remain high, and without any change in lake management, lake levels are projected to rise by 0.21m by 2040 and 0.67m by 2090.

For more information about research and work being done across Waitaha Canterbury and what you can do, you can visit It's Time, Canterbury.

Selwyn District Council was one of the earliest signatories to the New Zealand Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration 2017. As a signatory, the Council is committed to developing and implementing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to engage with tangata whenua, and to support resilience within our local communities.

This requires long-term planning to allow for changes in policy, land-use planning, adapting behaviours and increasing the resilience of infrastructure. We recognise that we make decisions that span generations – so we must actively assess and respond to the risks and opportunities that climate change presents.

What’s the Council doing about climate change?

Assessing our risk

  • We have worked with councils in Waitaha Canterbury to prepare a report identifying key climate-related risks across the region. The report centres around an integrated framework, Te Tūtei o Te Hau: Surveillance of the Wind, aligned with a Te Ao Māori worldview as well as the National Climate Change Risk Assessment framework. Priority risks include sea-level rise, flooding, coastal erosion, fire, higher temperatures, drought, and storms.
  • At a District-level we have prepared three-yearly assessments of climate trends and climate-related risks for various Council’s assets. The most recent report expanded its scope to include all Council assets (buildings, roading, water infrastructure, open spaces, etc).
  • We've also done an initial assessment of flooding hazards in coastal and low-lying parts of the district, using computer-based flood modelling to predict the extent and depth of flooding. This allows us to avoid exacerbating risks and to prepare for possible flood events, showing where we need to focus our flood protection measures and steps that can be taken to ensure community preparedness.

Planning our response

  • We’re now working with our regional partners through the Canterbury Mayoral Forum to prepare a Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan. A staff Climate Change Working Group provides advice to, and is guided by, a Climate Change Reference Group of governance representatives.
  • As part of developing our Long Term Plan and annual plans we have prepared guidance on climate change. This is helping our asset managers and service providers consider the climate mitigation and adaptation risks and opportunties specific to different operations across Council.

Putting climate change at the heart of decision-making

  • In 2020 we took a our first major step to put climate change at the heart of our work, adopting our first formal Climate Change Policy [PDF, 125KB]. This brings together several areas of work into a consolidated blueprint for action on climate change, and commits the Council to make climate change mitigation and adaptation central to its planning and decision-making.

Measuring our own carbon footprint

  • As part of our leadership role in addressing climate change locally, we undertake annual assessments of our organisational carbon emissions. These assessments help identify opportunities to reduce emissions in our own operations and those of our contractors and inform investment proposals that can be incorporated into future long-term and annual plans.
  • Assessments commenced for the 2018/19 financial year. Subsequent assessments for 2019/20 and 2020/21 [PDF, 1528 KB] broadly mirror the findings from the baseline year. These ‘carbon footprints’ represent the first crucial step towards meeting our obligations under the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019, targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
  • The assessment findings show the Council’s biggest emissions come from its main contracted services; wastewater treatment, rubbish and recycling collections and disposal, and roads and parks maintenance. These made up 71 percent of the Council’s annual emissions in 2020/21. Diesel is the most significant contributor (45%), followed by electricity (27%) and the methane and nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater (22%).
  • We will continue to monitor our emissions, and will set reduction targets as part of our own climate actions, linked to commitments made through our Long Term Plans.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to our changing climate through:

Flooding

Our flood modelling allows us to identify where flooding is most likely in the district and take steps to prepare. Our work includes improvements to the stormwater network to increase catchments, flood defences and rules in the Proposed District Plan. This will help ensure houses built in flood-prone areas are protected for flooding up to a one in 200-year flood event.

Major flood protection projects under way are the Leeston Stormwater Flood bypass and Hororātā flood protection work, improving drainage in the township, building a new drainage channel south of Hororātā this year (2021) and clearing debris from the Hororātā River, Cordys Stream and Happy Jacks Creek to improve flows and reduce spillover in heavy rain events, while protecting ecological and biodiversity values.

Waste

The Pines Resource Recovery Centre Reconnect project is underway aimed at getting people thinking differently about waste materials, showcasing recovery of materials from the waste stream, and alternative options to landfill. The project includes more space for recycling and reusables, and plans for a reuse shop, salvage material yard and education centre.

As part of the master plan for the expansion of the Pines Waste Water Treatment over the next 30 years, we're looking into ways to turn it from an energy-using plant to an energy neutral plant that would produce resources and generate its own power.

Transport

Our transport strategies are focussed on helping people move to low carbon emission transport options, including promoting public transport, building cycle and walkways and supporting the installation of charging stations for electronic vehicles. In the past year we worked with Orion and Charge Net to install EV charging stations in Lincoln, Leeston, Dunsandel, Springfield, Castle Hill and Arthur’s Pass.

We’re also adding new electric and hybrid cars to our Council fleet, with four new hybrids on the way this year and plans for two electric cars by the end of the year.

We work with Environment Canterbury and the Greater Christchurch Partnership on strategies for public transport and planning our future growth to ensure good access to low carbon emission transport options.

Natural environment

The Council administers the Selwyn Natural Environment Fund, to encourage and assist landowners to identify, protect, restore and enhance areas of natural biodiversity.

The District Plan puts in place rules to protect biodiversity and the natural environment in Selwyn, including identifying and protecting significant natural areas.

Building

The Council is increasingly looking to reduce our carbon footprint from Council buildings, right from the start of construction.

The Selwyn Sports Centre has been built with solar panels that will provide up to 80 per cent of its power use in summer and with innovative Kingspan cladding that reduces the need for additional insulation.

Te Ara Ātea, the anchor building of the new Rolleston Town Centre, has been built to a high environmental standard.

Wherever possible locally sourced sustainable materials have been used in the construction and all the timber in the building has been sustainably sourced.

The building is also built to reduce energy use in lighting, heating and cooling to reach the standards of a green star rated building.