​Transport emissions reduction pathway adopted by Auckland Council

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter
Funded by New Zealand on Air
 
The transport emissions reduction pathway, dubbed a city shaping document, was adopted with cheers and applause heard from around the town hall.

The pathway is Auckland Council's attempt to reach a 64 percent emissions reduction by 2030.

The transport emissions reduction pathway (TERP) looks to give Aucklanders more sustainable transport options, reverse urban sprawl, make the streets safer and make it easier for people who still need to drive.

At the external Environment and Climate Change Commitee on August 18, general manager for long term planning Jacques Victor said the TERP was councils only option in order to reach the 64 percent target.

“This required every single lever to be pulled to the absolute maximum, there is not another pathway,” Victor said. “You cannot help but come to the conclusion we have very little time left.”

Victor said reducing emissions was a global obligation and that New Zealand made an “absolutely disappointing contribution to emissions”.

“The pathways is one thing, getting Aucklanders to take up those alternative pathways is another.”

Cr Wayne Walker asked about costing for the TERP and was concerned that if it is “not costed, it may not be possible.”

Chief economist Gary Blick said that a long term plan like the TERP would not be costed and that “individual projects will be costed”.

Mayor Phil Goff said councillors would be judged by their kids and their grandkids for the the way they voted.

“Anyone who does not believe in a climate emergency is a dinosaur and will go the way of the dinosaurs,” Goff said.

“It would have been better if we did this yesterday but the next best thing, we do it today.”

Cr Linda Cooper said council had to get people on board for the change.

“Everybody likes it until it affects them. I would love if Auckland Transport would work with local councillors to figure out how best to communicate to individual communities,” Cooper said.

The word radical was thrown around throughout the day with some saying it was a necessary to have radical change while others said the changes were not that radical at all.

Chair Richard Hills said the changes only appeared radical because of the time frame council was attempting to do them in.

“Climate change knows no bounds. It does not need a visa… thousands of global citizens have had their lives extinguished from climate change,” Hills said.

Cr Daniel Newman, Greg Sayers, Sharon Stewart voted against the adoption of the pathway. 

​Early next year, council staff and Auckland Transport will report back to the committee on a monitoring framework and implementation programme for the pathway.