- Your Council
- Careers
- Climate Change and Biodiversity
- Consultations
- Council Documents
- Council Meetings
- Council Projects
- District Plan
- Elected Members
- Elections
- Fast-track Approvals Act
- LGOIMA (information) requests
- Media Centre
- News
- Newsletter Archive
- Our Strategic Framework
- Public Notices
- Sister Cities
- User Fees and Charges
Climate Change and Biodiversity
Hurika Āhuaraki me te Rereka Rauropi
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.
To find out more about what we are doing check out our new Climate Action and Biodiversity website. It includes our full Climate and Biodiversity Plan (2025-2028), our actions and progress, and more.
On the Climate Action website, you will also find news updates, information and partner organisations and the independent Climate Reference Group that advises Council.
Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2025 - 2028
The plan sets out how the district is going to respond to climate change and includes 50 actions. These range from reducing carbon emissions through more effective land-use planning and infrastructure design, to regenerating native forest.
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 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, chaired by Dr Leslie Van Gelder, has been particularly instrumental in the development of the draft Climate and Biodiversity Plan 2025-2028.
Further information
Visit the Climate Action Updates hub, your go-to space for the latest stories, milestones, and community wins from across the Queenstown Lakes District. Here, we share progress on our Climate & Biodiversity Plan 2025–2028, spotlight local champions, and keep you in the loop on upcoming events, funding opportunities, and ways to get involved.