28 July 2004

Local Government New Zealand supports Communities for Climate Protection programme

Local Government New Zealand welcomes the Government’s launch of the Communities for Climate Change programme in New Zealand.

Speaking at the formal launch of the programme by Energy Minister and Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson, in Auckland today, Local Government New Zealand’s President Basil Morrison said the programme could help the sector develop effective local programmes to address climate change.

Four councils - Waitakere City Council, Kapiti Coast District Council, Masterton District Council and Christchurch City Council – have already joined the programme and were represented at the launch. Mr Morrison said he expected other councils to join when they considered the potential for business opportunities, financial savings, and community gains from the programme.

The Communities for Climate Protection is a world-wide programme and has already been successful in a number of other countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency and conservation, increasing sustainable transportation, enhancing urban design, and reducing landfill emissions.

Communities for Climate Protection helps local authorities to develop emission inventories, targets for emission reductions, action plans for achieving these, and to monitor progress towards targets on an on-going basis.

“The programme has already proven successful overseas and will provide councils with resources, ideas and advice based on international best practice to help develop effective local initiatives,” said Mr Morrison.

ENDS

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