Climate Change and Biodiversity
On 27 June 2019, Queenstown Lakes District Council declared a climate and ecological emergency.
Over the last few years, Council has embarked on a journey towards a major organisational behaviour shift ensuring climate change considerations are reflected in decision making, policy setting, projects, and service delivery.
But there is still a way to go.
Check out our draft Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 – 2025 to see the direction we are heading in, as well as our previous plan, community updates, and climate reports for our district below.
Draft Climate and Biodiversity Plan Climate Action Plan 2019-2022 Climate and sustainability updates Climate Reference Group Further informationDraft Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 - 2025
The draft plan, which sets out how the district is going to respond to climate change, includes more than 60 actions. These range from reducing carbon emissions through more effective land-use planning and infrastructure design, to regenerating native forest, as well as district-wide goals including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 44% by 2030 and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
We asked for community feedback on the draft plan during April 2022.
We're currently considering this feedback for the final Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 – 2025, which will be put forward for Council to adopt mid-year.
Climate Action Plan 2019 - 2022
The Climate Action Plan 2019-2022 | Te Mahere Āhurangi o Ngā Tau 2019-2022 was adopted 12 March 2020 to guide local action to help our district adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
This Climate Action Plan was the first for our district. It identifies ways in which we can reduce emissions and set a strategic direction for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The current draft Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 – 2025 builds on this first plan.
Climate and sustainability updates
We have an e-newsletter which you can sign up for. The newsletter features climate and sustainability stories from across the district, including Council activities, as well as case studies, what’s coming up, and profiles of people making positive change in Queenstown Lakes.
You can also check out past editions of the newsletter below:
Climate Reference Group
The Climate Reference Group is made up of community leaders and climate experts to provide advice to Council’s climate action team. The group has been particularly instrumental in the development of the draft Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022-2025, including advocating for a stronger focus on biodiversity.
Climate Reference Group members:
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Bridget Legnavsky: Chairperson
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Alec Tang: Climate Action in Government Expert
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Alexa Forbes: Otago Regional Councillor
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Dr Barrie Wills: Biodiversity Expert
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Esther Whitehead: QLDC Councillor
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Gail Thompson: nominated by Te Ao Marama on behalf of runaka
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Dr Jim Salinger: Climate Change Expert
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Dr Lyn Carter: nominated by Aukaha on behalf of runaka
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Niki Gladding: QLDC Councillor
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Quentin Smith: QLDC Councillor and Infrastructure Committee Chair
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Tony Pfeiffer: Upper Clutha Community Leader
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Vacant: Whakatipu Community Leader
Media release: Queenstown Lakes District Council establishes Climate Reference Group
Further information
The 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report has been developed to provide an assessment of the estimated greenhouse gas emissions for the district for the 2019 calendar year. The assessment has been prepared by Tonkin & Taylor, who were also responsible for our 2017 GHG Inventory Report.
Prepared by Bodeker Scientific for QLDC, this report provides an analysis of both historical and projected changes in the climate of the district. Understanding projected changes to climate and potential impacts is vital for effective adaptation planning.
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has established an independent, multidisciplinary Climate Reference Group (CRG) replete with relevant experience to support the delivery of its Climate Action Plan.
In late 2020 a study was conducted to evaluate a feasible pathway for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 across the Queenstown Lakes District. This study, Emissions Reduction Roadmap, presents a detailed set of options for reducing CO2 emissions across various sectors within the district over the next thirty years.
A Carbon Sequestration Study was undertaken in late 2020 to explore our ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon within the Queenstown Lakes District. This study focusses primarily on biological sequestration (e.g., forests and vegetation) and evaluates both the potential and the challenges associated with our unique topography.
View the submission on the Climate Change Commission's first package of advice from 26 March 2021.
Our submission on the Ministry for the Environment’s Emissions Reduction Plan Discussion Document.