Councillors will be asked to adopt the council’s climate strategy 2024 at tomorrow’s council meeting.
In a report to be presented at the meeting, council strategy manager Hilary Lennox said climate-change denial was one of six themes that emerged during online public consultation this year.
Still, the council had revised its strategy, aligned it with now approved "strategic directions" and renamed it, to help lessen confusion around the council’s aims.
Based on public feedback, the council’s draft strategy was altered to reflect the "vision and goals" of the council’s recently adopted and intrinsically connected strategic directions document, Ms Lennox said.
"The purpose of the climate strategy is now much clearer; it exists to show how ORC will give effect to the climate-related components of the strategic directions (rather than being a standalone action plan)," she said.
"By aligning the climate strategy to the strategic directions, these strategic documents will work together to amplify one another and present a coherent, easily understandable framework to the public."
She noted that from August to October the council sought public feedback on its draft strategy by conducting an online survey.
During that time the council received 249 survey responses, and several written responses in addition to the survey.
Social media posts about the draft strategy also attracted notable attention, Ms Lennox said.
There was some feedback around concerns that taking action on climate change could lead to increased rates.
Some respondents sought more support for the agriculture sector to take action on climate change.
There was demand for "more and improved" public transport.
Wider environmental issues "and their overlap with climate change", should be a focus, some said.
There was demand for "more education on climate impacts and emissions mitigation opportunities", Ms Lennox said.
There was also "climate-change denial".
"The feedback received provided useful insights into the community views and expectations on climate action within the Otago region, and what aspects of our work are recognised as relating to climate change," she said.
"Notably, it was clear across much of the feedback that the draft strategy needed to better communicate its role within ORC (how it informs and impacts our functions); and what our functions, role, and limitations are."
— APL
