The Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP)
The highly anticipated Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) just announced by the New Zealand Government has been welcomed by Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects.
Carbon landscape pioneer, Craig Pocock, who is also on the NZILA Advocacy Panel and the Institute’s Climate Action Working Group, says it’s exciting to see government tackling the “difficult and sometimes uncomfortable issues around carbon reduction and consuming less with a view towards our future generations.”
NZILA President Henry Crothers agrees, saying the ERP places a strong emphasis on creating more sustainable transport, infrastructure and urban environments which he says is central to what landscape architects do.
The prime minister says “we cannot leave the issue of climate change until it’s too late to fix.”
He says NZILA has committed to the establishment of a Climate Change Working Group and preparing its own Climate Positive design guidance to enable its members to proactively contribute to this discussion.
“We want to provide design advice around how landscape issues and landscape architecture can assist and to inform members of the actions and contributions they can make both professionally and personally,” he says.
Craig Pocock says the ERP outlines a range of carbon reduction initiatives from the way we move to how we produce food.
“It’s about taking the actions, both large and small, that together add up to a better future for people and for the planet.”
He says as a community we should be looking beyond even the government’s guidelines and policies to see what we can do to reduce carbon and resource consumption within our own professional and personal lives. “All actions both large and small are significant contributions to our collective future.”
Craig says it is important landscape architects understand the carbon cost of their work and start developing lower design approaches “so we can support our clients in their lower carbon journeys. It’s is exciting to see a low carbon economy developing in New Zealand for both our industry and future generations.”
Here are some of the key planks of the plan as outlined by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister James Shaw in their ERP announcement.
Emissions Reduction Plan prepares New Zealand for the future, ensuring country is on track to meet first emissions budget, securing jobs, and unlocking new investment
Every sector to play its part across transport, waste, food production, manufacturing, building and construction
More New Zealanders supported to purchase electric vehicles, increasing zero emissions vehicles to at least 30 percent of light fleet by 2035
Reduced waste going to landfills and investment in waste infrastructure so most houses have kerbside food waste collection by 2030
Easier, cleaner, cheaper public transport, including infrastructure projects in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and nationally integrated ticketing
Zero emissions buses only to enter fleet from 2025 and entire public transport fleet decarbonised by 2035
Low emissions trucks to transport food and other products, cutting freight emissions by 35 percent by 2035
More of our biggest businesses powered by clean, renewable energy generated here in New Zealand, not overseas
An end to our reliance on coal with a ban on new low to medium temperature coal boilers and a phase out of existing ones by 2037
Climate friendly food and fibre production with new Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions accelerating delivery of emissions reduction tools and technologies and an emissions pricing mechanism for agriculture by 1 January 2025
Support for native wildlife and forests
NZILA President Henry Crothers says the ERP places a strong emphasis on creating more sustainable transport, infrastructure and urban environments.
In announcing the plan the Prime Minister said “we’ve all seen the recent reports on sea level rise and its impact right here in New Zealand. We cannot leave the issue of climate change until it’s too late to fix.
“The Emissions Reduction Plan delivers the greatest opportunity we’ve had in decades to address climate change but also move to a high wage, low emissions economy that provides greater economic security by creating jobs, upgrading the country to run on more clean energy, supporting nature, and improving infrastructure.
“This is a challenge I know New Zealand can succeed in. Our plan is achievable because it includes a role for Government as well as for every community and sector of the economy.”
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says the Emissions Reduction Plan will ensure New Zealand is on track to meet the climate targets this Government has put in place all while creating new jobs, improving our communities, and making life better for people.
“But lasting climate action is about more than setting targets. It’s about take the actions, both large and small, that together add up to a better future for people and for the planet. And that’s what the Emissions Reduction Plan is all about.
“Tackling climate change requires the combined effort of government, iwi / Māori, unions, communities, local government, and business. This plan will guide the work we do together so that collectively we transition to a low carbon future in a way that benefits everyone,” he says.