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 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.

Quick links

Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022-2025

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Climate Action Plan 2019-2022

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Climate and sustainability updates

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Climate Reference Group

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Further information

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Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 - 2025

The plan sets out how the district is going to respond to climate change and includes 70 actions. These range from reducing carbon emissions through more effective land-use planning and infrastructure design, to regenerating native forest. 

Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022-2025 (PDF, 11.08MB) Climate and Biodiversity Plan Summary (PDF, 241.48Kb)

The development of the plan involved extensive engagement with community and environmental groups, Kāi Tahu, not-for-profit organisations, climate experts, and partner agencies. We also put the draft plan out for public feedback in March and April 2022. 

Climate and Biodiversity Plan feedback

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 Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2022 – 2025 builds on this first plan. 

Climate Action Plan 2019 - 22

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.

Sign up for Climate Action Updates

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:

  • Alec Tang

  • Dr Barrie Wills

  • Dr Jim Salinger

  • Dr Lyn Carter

  • Dr Leslie Van Gelder

  • Tony Pfeiffer

  • Amanda Robinson

  • Eleanor Trueman

  • Victoria Crockford

  • Chris Cameron

  • Sydney Telfer

Media release: Queenstown Lakes District Council establishes Climate Reference Group

Climate Reference Group Chairperson Application

Applications are currently being sought for the role of Chairperson for the Queenstown Lakes District Council Independent Climate Reference Group (CRG). Applications close Sunday 11 June 2023.  

CRG Chairperson Application

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.

QLDC commissioned CarbonEES to calculate its organisational greenhouse gas inventory for the financial year 2018-2019.

Paul Tanigaito a Massey University post graduate student spent time with Local Government Funding Agency looking at which of the seventy-eight councils in New Zealand declared a climate emergency during 2019-2020. Paul looked at what those councils have done since their declaration or what they are planning to do going forward. Paul also looked at identifying any opportunities for LGFA to assist those councils with their responses. 

Sixteen of New Zealand’s 78 Councils have declared a Climate Emergency, of which fifteen of these Councils are coastal Councils, with the other being Queenstown Lakes District Council, which already had a focus on sustainability, releasing its Climate Change Action Plan the same day as their Climate Emergency Declaration.