Since 2014-15, carbon emissions have increased by 4% to 1,694,532 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), a report to be discussed by the Dunedin City Council says.
The increase was driven by the transport sector, while emissions from agriculture dropped.
The report, authored by principal policy adviser Jinty MacTavish, also said prior efforts to bring organisations together on the issue had been unsuccessful.
A Zero Carbon Alliance 2030 was proposed to combat the issue.
The alliance suggested a partnership approach to reducing emissions in the city, with the University of Otago, the Otago Regional Council, Otago Polytechnic, local runanga and the Southern District Health Board to be approached as potential founding members.
Ms MacTavish said because the zero carbon 2030 goal was approaching, and because emissions had continued to increase, it was essential to use partnership-based efforts to reduce emissions.
"A formal partnership of major agencies committed to emissions reduction could also play a key support role in the development of a city-wide emissions reduction plan."
Given the large number of stakeholders and "other complexities", it was anticipated developing the plan would be a significant undertaking, and would take "some time to conclude", she said.
Since the council’s last update in the 2014-15 year, emissions from the transport sector had increased by 30% and made up 43% of total emissions.
Sixty-nine percent of transport emissions were from land transport, including petrol and diesel.
Agriculture was the second-largest source of emissions at 35%, showing a reduction of 12% due to fewer livestock farmed in the region.
This was followed by stationary energy, including electricity generation, at 12% and waste contributing to 7% of emissions.
In 2015, the Dunedin Energy Leaders’ Accord was set up, an alliance between major organisations, businesses and representatives of major sectors to deliver better energy outcomes, including emissions reduction.
Ms MacTavish said the regular meetings, public engagement and degree of collaboration originally envisioned by the accord were not realised.
"The accord itself can best be described as inactive."
To date, much of the council’s zero carbon work had focused on updating the city’s emissions data and working on the draft 10-year plan, Ms MacTavish said.
"However, when there is a reduction in calls on staff time to support draft 10-year plan development, the focus of the zero carbon work programme can shift to the city-wide emissions reduction plan development envisaged by the council."
Councillors will decide whether to support the creation of the alliance on Tuesday.
If they vote in favour, terms of reference are hoped to be developed by December.
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Comments
Yay, more red tape and bureaucracy for a fake problem pushed onto us by the world elites for control over the gullible people
Haven't you got a V8 you should be driving?
You tell 'em Donald!
Can we also add ZERO rates increases as a DCC policy for the future? That would have healthy support.
No suprisies emissions have risen. The Energy Manager role at DCC was dis-established a few years back under Sue Bidrose. When there are no staff working on emissions reduction except for intermittent efforts from policy staff the intent is clear and results predictable.
This alliance of organisations will hopefully create a more robust intent that will translate into actual staff working on the issues rather than just having vague or long term policy goals.
Just beware that some ORC councillors avoided declaring a climate emergency using dirty tricks that were outside the intent of the democratic system, and they will likely try to disrupt this alliance. That's something those councillors will have to live with when their grandchildren ask them what they did about climate change. Unfortunately a warming earth is something there rest of us have to live with due to such political inaction. It's time to change direction.
Why do we need to comply to these nagging hypocrites. Let them go away and set up a zero carbon commune of caves, and shrug off all aspects of modernity, including construction, industry, clothing textiles, heating and technology. We are carbon based life forms. Zero carbon is an expression of self immolation.
I quite agree, there is a risk that we might build a better future for ourselves, and nobody wants that!
By how much had the population of Dunedin grown in that period? 4% or more?
Makes sense that with a population growth the is a pollution growth!
Can the ODT ask the council when the climate emergency will be lifted? and what have they done about it apart from time and money wasting?
Jinty needs to get another line of work instead of just taking from the rate payer all the time.
THERE are alot of cross boundary issues that should be talked about e.g. Dunedin's air quality has not been measured since 2009 and nobody wants to really talk about the greening of our ports - ship to shore power which cuts 90% of ships emissions. so hopefully a committee of action rather than beaurocrats
We will be in the next ice-age before the council reacts to global warming.
Wow wow wow this looks like a job for the old Boys and Girls club, what did this cost the Rate payers, these academics are raping the coin from the rate payers pots of gold, getting rich while Joe blogs gets slapped with rubbish. All I can say is the Green Party is very dangerous and are out of control.
'The Green Party is very dangerous and are out of control.' Just like the climate then.....https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/13/climate-worst-case-s...
What a crock - principal policy adviser Jinty MacTavish - jobs for mates, Dunedin is going down the drain. Hawkins and I bet even Cull has planned this, the Council needs to be taken to task. Revoke the position