AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

6 September 2007

Auckland sets carbon neutral goal of 2020

The Urban Strategy and Governance Committee has resolved that Auckland City Council will be carbon neutral by 2020.

Mayor Hubbard says cities around the world were stepping up to the plate on this issue and it was about time Auckland joined the growing call to help save the planet.

“I’m absolutely delighted that council has embraced this concept and this goal,” Mayor Hubbard says.

“Auckland will not only reap the obvious environmental benefits but also gain economic benefits. International evidence shows that economic activity actually increases as a result of pursuing such targets.”

He says any costs associated with the carbon neutral target could be more accurately regarded as an investment in the city and he urged for regional co-operation on becoming carbon neutral.

“I’ve been pushing hard for today’s decision for the last three years,” he says. “Today we present a gift to our children and our grandchildren.”

Chairperson of the Urban Strategy and Governance Committee and deputy mayor, Dr Bruce Hucker, says the council has shown real vision in passing the resolution.

“By putting a solid date next to this goal, the council is demonstrating its commitment to sustainable management and is leading the way for other organisations and businesses and for the community at large to follow suit,” Dr Hucker says.

“This is an issue requiring strong leadership and the council expects its decision will act as a catalyst for change.”

Auckland City Council has been working for more than a decade on a range of measures to enhance the city’s sustainability and has made key achievements during this time, such as an increased focus on sustainable transport options and public transport infrastructure and developing a vision for a more compact future for our city.

In 2006, the mayoral task force on sustainability provided advice and priorities for action on sustainable development. The resulting long-term plan for a sustainable Auckland, Keeping Auckland’s future bright, identified four areas for action that will provide increased momentum. These are that Auckland City Council will:

- become an exemplar of sustainable development

- make it easier for the people, communities and cultures of Auckland to make sustainable choices

- reduce the city’s environmental footprint and nurture a healthy eco-system

- facilitate sustainable urban and economic development of the city, including sustainable transport.

Keeping Auckland’s future bright identifies priorities under each of these four goals, which will complement work underway on existing programmes and initiatives. The plan was adopted by the council in July 2007 and is yet to be released.

ENDS

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