Climate action group Extinction Rebellion will hold a mock funeral procession outside the Town Hall this morning at 10.30am. A eulogy will be given to mourn the loss of life caused by climate change, and a coffin adorned with flowers will be carried by the “mourners”.

Representatives from the group will be speaking to the Environment and Community committee (the Council committee with key responsibility for climate change) at 9.30am, calling on Auckland Council to declare a climate emergency and immediately implement a robust climate safety plan.

Rosie Gee, an Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, says “The Council needs to acknowledge that we are in the middle of an emergency. New Zealand has already witnessed record-breaking temperatures, increased wildfires, droughts, storms and floods. And this is just the beginning.”

A recent report from Local Government New Zealand says sea-level-rise of 1.5m will cause damage to Auckland’s public infrastructure of up to $1.4 billion. This does not include damage to private homes, businesses, roads, schools and hospitals, and the full cost is expected to be in the tens of billions of dollars.

“The council’s plans to deal with climate chaos are aspirational and too soft” Gee says. “They need to accelerate their timelines and lock in hard targets”.

The Council has a current target of 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (based on 1990 levels).

“It’s too little, too late” says Gee. “We don’t have decades. We are calling on the council to first declare a state of emergency, and then urgently develop a plan to ensure public safety: a zero emissions target by 2025, citizens’ climate emergency panel, costed action plan by 2020 and compliance by Auckland Council, CCOs contractors, and businesses to increase energy efficiency of all buildings and vehicles.”

So far 369 councils around the world have declared a climate emergency, but none from New Zealand. “Auckland Council needs to show real courage and lead the way” says Gee.

The Mayor Phil Goff, deputy Mayor and all councillors are expected to be in attendance at the meeting.

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