The Climate Change Commission has sent a letter outlining six principles for the government to help guide investment decisions being made as part of the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are: Consider how stimulus investments can deliver long-term climate benefits Bring forward transformational climate change investments that need to happen anyway Prepare our… Continue reading Six Climate Change Principles for Investment
Category: Sustainability
Adapting Land Development to a Changing Climate
The first national climate change risk assessment for Aotearoa NZ has been released. It identifies 43 priority risks with the following 10 most significant risks that require urgent action: Natural Environment: Risks to coastal ecosystems, including the intertidal zone, estuaries, dunes, coastal lakes and wetlands, due to ongoing sea-level rise and extreme weather events. Natural… Continue reading Adapting Land Development to a Changing Climate
Fast-track Consenting (shudder)
The government has announced that it will undertake a law change to fast-track eligible development. The details are still relatively light but the following types of projects have been singled out for priority at this early stage (my satirical comments added): Roading (to help us re-pollute the air); Walking and cycling (which has been revealed… Continue reading Fast-track Consenting (shudder)
Freshwater 2020 Report Released
Four issues have been identified: Our native freshwater species and ecosystems are under threat Water is polluted in urban, farming, and forestry areas Changing water flows affect our freshwater Climate change is affecting freshwater in Aotearoa New Zealand A must read for all land development professionals wanting to improve the quality of our environment.
Wasted Planning
I’ve been really interested in recent work around waste minimisation and in particular The Truth About Plastics Recycling report by WasteMINZ. It highlights the three principles of the circular economy: Design out waste and pollution Keep products and materials in use Regenerate natural systems It struck me that these three principles are entirely applicable to… Continue reading Wasted Planning
Trees are the Enemy of Growth
Consultation on the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity closes soon and some of the submissions by local government are fascinating. The ones I have seen (through Council Committee agendas) almost all reference a perceived tension between biodiversity protection and urban development. It’s unfortunate that such a false dichotomy exists in planning because we… Continue reading Trees are the Enemy of Growth