In a time of unprecedented change, we must re-write the rule book.
A submission on the Climate Change Commission’s advice to the New Zealand Government.
We are in a time of unprecedented change, and yesterday’s rules no longer apply. Climate change is here, and we know what we need to do; the science is accepted, and we have the tools we need to make change now.
To make that change, we’re going to need to be resilient, resourceful, and ready. And we’re starting today.
My name is Cam Perkins, and I am an Urban Pirate: a city-shaping agent of change navigating rapid city transformation.
I’m on a mission to build resilient communities, to resource them with the tools they need to thrive, and to help people to prepare for change; to be ready.
Please accept this document as my submission to the Climate Change Commission’s Draft Advice to the New Zealand Government.
Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu!
Part One: My One Big Thing
Climate Change is a result of human systems and human behaviours. A simple response to Climate Change, therefore, is to change our systems, and to change our behaviours. Box ticked, job done! We can all go home and have a beer after patting ourselves on the back. Ahem.
Addressing climate change requires improving our systems. We need to adjust our systems settings so that we live in a way that is resilient, resourceful and ready. Lucky for us, we have the tools that we need to adjust our systems. We have the technical knowledge, we have the skills, and we have the resourcefulness. We have the ability to adjust our urban form, transport, food production, and community systems.
Changing systems means changing behaviours, and that’s where we need to put more focus. We have the ability to mandate systems change, but it’s tough to mandate behaviour change. We can mandate targets, we can set prices for emissions, we can set laws for corporations, but how do we go about working with change at an individual level? Making change easy for many individual people may seem like a small, focused task, but it quickly adds up. And we know that we have many individuals making choices every day around urban form and transport.
Right now, our urban form and our transport systems provide very little choice for people to change their behaviours, and therefore their energy profiles. Our housing typologies and arrangement of towns and cities means people need to travel further for the activities they want to do, for the things they need, and for employment. Our limited public transport connectivity, locally and regionally, gives people limited opportunities to change their mode of travel, or even to try a more efficient mode of travel. Our unsafe roads and streets deter people from trying active modes of transport like walking and cycling.
This ‘system setting’ results in a vicious cycle of dependency on high energy activity. So we need to make change easier for people to understand, easier for people to take part in, and easier for people to prepare for.
Therefore, my One Big Thing for the Climate Change Commission is to focus on human behaviour; making the change we need to make easier for people, with a specific focus on people’s response to change in the systems of urban form and transport.
Our advice to the New Zealand Government must be to rapidly build compact urban form and low-emissions, active and resilient transport networks and to do this in a way that involves people in an authentic and collaborative process that:
delivers benefits sooner through an iterative “let’s-get-moving” approach
communicates co-benefits and rewards people for “unlocking” co-benefits in their day-to-day life
builds resilience in communities through greater connection, peer-based learning and understanding
builds trust between people in communities, and between communities and government
The Government has the ability to zone, fund and build compact urban form, and to make it affordable and accessible, meaning more opportunities for people to have what they need close to their home. The Government has the ability to mandate, fund and build safe, healthy and resilient transport infrastructure, making it easier for people to make a more sustainable choice. We’ve made significant change before as a Team of 5 Million. We can continue that great work. Let’s start today.
Part Two: The Six Big Issues
1. Do you agree that the emissions budgets we have proposed would put Aotearoa on course to meet the 2050 emissions targets?
With the greatest of respect, we DISAGREE. We are seen as leaders in addressing significant challenges; we must use this position to inspire and lead others to act quickly and decisively.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 1.5 degree report outlines that for a 66% chance of averting climate catastrophe, we must approach emissions reductions with deep cuts in emissions starting immediately. The Commission’s proposed approach is not ambitious enough and risks passing many tipping points, which would put us on a hothouse earth trajectory.
The first three carbon budgets take a very cautious and incremental approach to reducing emissions, requiring larger cuts in later years. The emissions budgets should reflect New Zealand’s commitment to global equity and fulfillment of our obligation as a developed nation, and leverage our position as leaders on the global stage.
We have the tools and the ability to change our Urban Form and Transport Systems rapidly, and we must impress upon people that we are serious about change. We must place more emphasis on achieving our targets for change by 2030, we must reinforce the urgency of the issue; we must start now.
In the transport sector this will enable us to maximise the potential benefits of a low emissions transport system. For example, Waka Kotahi NZTA’s Innovating Streets programme can be funded, resourced and scaled for maximum impact across the country, achieving change relatively quickly, in order to bring forward benefits of safer, healthier streets that provide easier conditions for people to change the way they move around our towns and cities.
In the Urban Form sector, we can mandate Green Building Council Green Star Communities rating tools, and we can mandate GreenStar HomeStar rating tools for warm, dry and energy efficient homes. Governments, both central and local, can focus on urban regeneration of brownfield areas, and limit the development of greenfield.
2. Do you agree we have struck a fair balance between requiring the current generation to take action, and leaving future generations to do more work to meet the 2050 target and beyond?
With the greatest of respect, we STRONGLY DISAGREE. The draft emissions budgets are inconsistent with a 1.5 degree pathway for 2030, particularly with the role New Zealand needs to take as a highly developed nation to do more than the average (our fair share). We must leverage our leadership position to inspire others into action.
The current generation cannot maintain their current trajectory. Climate justice means action now.
Situating the bulk of reductions in the 2030s puts an unfair burden on future generations compared to greater cuts this decade. Bringing more government direct investment in emissions reductions forward will share the burden of reductions more equitably, while also contributing to greater consistency with 1.5 degree pathways.
Our approach to transitioning equitably must take into account our role as a developed nation that has historically contributed more than our fair share of emissions, and account for the high-polluting industries that have profited from decades of pollution with little consequence. It is essential that our actions account for our fair share to reduce the burden on future generations and communities on the frontlines of climate impacts, who have contributed the least to the problem but are paying the highest costs.
3. Do you agree with the changes we have suggested to make the NDC compatible with the 1.5°C goal?
With the greatest of respect, we DISAGREE. The proposed changes are not ambitious enough.
More can be done within Aotearoa to reduce our emissions, and we have the ability to act quickly, as detailed in Question 1. We have an outsized carbon footprint, and historic responsibility for contributing to climate change.
The current 2030 target under Paris Agreement is not compatible with Aotearoa making a contribution to limit warming to 1.5C. We agree that Aotearoa’s fair contribution is “much more than 35% below 2005 gross levels by 2030”.
We must leverage our position as leaders in large-scale change, and take action primarily at a domestic level. We must inspire others to act. Offshore mitigation must be recognised as a last resort.
The Climate Change Commission must publish and recommend to the government a ‘fair share’ NDC using appropriate calculators that highlight our historical responsibility, our capability for change, and our need for change. We must tell the story about our past, and what we want our future to look like.
4. Do you agree with our approach to meet the 2050 target that prioritises growing new native forests to provide a long-term store of carbon?
Finally, we AGREE on something! Huzzah! But, there’s a BUT.
It’s really important that we begin immediately with re-forestation and re-establishing natural, living carbon sinks, BUT we need to recognise that if we’re not emitting CO2, we’re not playing catch-up in future years. So we support the Climate Change Commission’s focus on large reductions of carbon dioxide with as little reliance on emission removals by forestry as possible. Give people the options to reduce their energy footprint! And get cracking on native forest regeneration. Make it easy for people!
We must recognise, through a systems approach, the co-benefits of retaining and re-establishing native forests, wetlands and tussock. We have the ability to provide the right conditions to address biodiversity through the regeneration of natural habitats. Our approach to forestry must consider how sovereignty will be returned to mana whenua to manage land, to uphold article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
5. What are the most urgent policy interventions needed to help meet our emissions budgets?
Seriously, four options for ‘most urgent policy interventions’ with the fourth one being “none of them”?
Remember our systems approach from our “One Big Thing” at the start of this submission? That’s where we look at everything. Every bloody thing that we can possibly do, we do it. No questions.
We need to re-write the rulebook. The current system got us into this mess. It’s not going to get us out.
So we need policy interventions across the board to meet emissions budgets, with accountability built in, and that focus on resilience, resourcefulness and readiness.
Here’s where we need you to focus your efforts for larger emissions reductions:
Transport
Shift up a few gears on mode shift: We can (re)build infrastructure that is safer to use, makes us healthier, is way more sustainable, and is more accessible. We know how to do it quickly, and we’ve got the funding. The co-benefits are well understood, so let’s get to it! Recognise the system!
Limit single occupant vehicles: Mass EV adoption still requires a lot of energy and resources (e.g. manufacturing, road space and parking) and simply reinforces systemic inequities in transport systems. We cannot be advising government to rely on uptake of EVs. We must provide communities with viable alternatives to make choices, and we must make it easier for people to change their behaviours.
Limit road capacity for single occupant vehicles: Expanding road capacity is like loosening your belt to deal with obesity – it doesn’t make sense. And just like climate change, the science is in. We followed Dr Ashley’s advice on COVID, let’s follow the science on transport.
Recognise Wellbeing in transport: Mode-shift also presents many co-benefits for health and wellbeing from more people using active transport, and helps to achieve a more holistic and just transition. We must not miss the opportunity to prioritise accessibility for disabled people. A co-benefit of building for disability access is that it benefits everyone. Disabled people deserve to access, and benefit from active transport as users.
Urban Form
A clear and accountable focus on delivering liveable, compact, accessible and equitable cities. We have the frameworks to achieve great outcomes, like Green Building Council’s GreenStar Communities (I’m a registered practitioner of the framework – I can help!). Let’s adopt the frameworks as requirements, win many many international awards, and inspire others to follow our lead. No longer are we the tiny nation forgotten on maps. Let’s rewrite the rules, and issue some new maps. Get in line! We’re on the way to a better planet! Who’s with me?!? I am!
Energy
A much larger direct investment in energy efficiency is needed, particularly across our housing stock. E.g. Government can invest in building energy efficient homes – the co-benefits are clear: healthier population, lower emissions, lower energy profiles…
Phase out fossil-fuel heating in new buildings by 2022.
Recognise the true costs of emissions with a price on carbon, and end subsidies via free carbon credits.
Get Air New Zealand to develop an app that lets you know where your tree was planted when you pay for carbon offsetting.
Agriculture
Advise that agriculture enters the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2021, with no subsidies
Recognise and communicate the value of low impact agricultural practices. Celebrate those who are making the change, and leading the industry!
Waste
Advise that measuring and increasing circularity in our economy is urgent
Advise that products that cannot be effectively reused, repaired, recycled or composted should be designed out of the economy.
Provide more detail on the interventions needed to reduce organic waste to landfill
Recommend waste levy revenue is invested in community-scale solutions at the top of the waste hierarchy
Health
Advise that a significantly increased focus on health, and particularly on health savings from co-benefits in a systems approach, is needed. This is significantly lacking in the Climate Change Commission’s draft advice.
We must balance communications around ‘cost of action’ with that of inaction, looking through a systems lens. For example, Victoria University of Wellington has calculated that over the last decade, some of the costs of climate impacts include $800 million from droughts and $140 million from floods.
Equity
Indigenous peoples management of resources is crucial to equitable emissions reduction and approaches to climate action must reflect this importance.
Support Māori governance of taonga by:
o Government to create binding best practices that require at least co-governance of land, water and air with whānau, hapū, iwi.
o Give full effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by initiating a process to implement the recommendations outlined by the Matike Mai report, in coordination with whānau, hapū and iwi
While disability is mentioned in the report, this does not go far enough. The commission needs to expand on this with a disability-responsive position statement and work group recommendations, to ensure a just transition.
Gender is not mentioned in the report once; yet climate change disproportionately impacts women and people of diverse genders. It’s vital that the Commission takes into account research on the gender impacts of climate change and climate action, and include this into their analysis.
6. Do you think our proposed emissions budgets and path to 2035 are both ambitious and achievable considering the potential for future behaviour and technology changes in the next 15 years?
With the greatest of respect, we DISAGREE. The proposal can be far more ambitious with existing technologies!
We have the tools and the technologies now, that can easily achieve stronger policy recommendations, and more stringent targets for heavy polluters, than the Climate Change Commission’s draft proposals.
We do not believe that the path to 2035 for the transport sector is ambitious enough. The Turning the Tide Report sets ambitious targets for increasing walking trips to 25% of mode share, cycling to 15% and public transport to 15%, with the remaining 45% being made up by cars by 2050 (see: https://www.otago.ac.nz/active-living/otago709602.html). We recommend the Climate Change Commission adopts these ambitious targets, rather than seeking to increase walking, cycling and public transport mode share by 25%, 95% and 120% respectively by 2030. This is particularly important for areas of Aotearoa where active and public transport modes each only make up 1–2% of mode share at present.
While the targets from Turning the Tide appear significantly higher than current mode share, there are many areas of opportunity. For example, the New Zealand Household Travel Survey shows that most short trips under two kilometres are made by private vehicle in Auckland (54% of trips less than one kilometre and 83% of trips one to two kilometres), when most trips of this distance could be easily made by walking or cycling.
We know that making walking and cycling safer, and more attractive, in our towns and cities is the key to helping people transition to more active and lower-emissions transport.
And that's an important concept, because in Aoteroa, around 1/3 of all car trips are under 2km. For many of us, that's walking or cycling distance.
Simple, effective, and quick changes to our streets could mean addressing 1/3 of our transport carbon emissions relatively quickly.
