Being climate smart means that Christchurch is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and responding to the social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.
Within the next 100 years Christchurch must prepare for:
- 50–80 centimetre rise in sea-level;
- a temperature increase of 2 degrees; and
- changes in rainfall and extreme weather events.
The Climate Smart Strategy sets the direction for community and Council responses to the impacts and opportunities presented by Climate Change.
Download the full Climate Smart Strategy 2012-2025.
The Government has predicted big changes in the weather patterns and sea level over the next 100 years, and Climate Smart Strategy outlines what this means for Christchurch and how the Council will understand and respond to these changes.
Why be climate smart?
It is easy to be climate smart every day. By walking, cycling or taking the bus, by recycling and composting, or by saving electricity you help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is important because continuing to emit large amounts of greenhouse gases by using fossil fuels, could lead to future changes in our climate that would make enjoying life in Christchurch much harder.
Christchurch is vulnerable to the physical impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, drought, and floods. Our way of life, natural landscapes and our economy, based in agriculture and tourism, are all vulnerable to these changes.
Being Climate Smart means reducing our emissions by saving energy, reducing waste and by being powered with renewable sources of energy such as wind, hydro and solar. Being Climate Smart also means we plan ahead to ensure that our community is resilient to future unavoidable changes to our climate.
The Christchurch City Council has legal responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2002 to consider the wellbeing of current and future generations. It must also consider the impacts of climate change in its activities undertaken through the Resource Management Act 1991 and Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002. The Council's Climate Smart Strategy is one way to help meet these legal obligations.
How to be climate smart
Everyone can take steps to live smarter. Taking simple steps at home, work, school and in your community will help ensure that Christchurch remains an enjoyable place to live for generations to come. Together we can create a Climate Smart Christchurch.
Find new ways to be climate smart.
Hot Topic - Are we being climate smart
A public forum in support of Earth Hour held on Wednesday 24 March 2010 can now be viewed online.
The following presentations are available for viewing:
- Introduction – Bob Parker, Mayor, Christchurch City Council
- Our changing climate – David Wratt, Chief Scientist, National Climate Centre, NIWA
- Building a resilient city – Mike Theelen, General Manager, Strategy and Planning, Christchurch City Council
- Powering the future – Roger Sutton, Chief Executive, Orion NZ Ltd
- A climate of business opportunity – Peter Townsend, Chief Executive, Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce
- Climate smart living – Rhys Taylor, National Coordinator, Sustainable Living Education Trust
Viewing requires a quick software download. Scroll through slides to view each presentation in order.
