Preparing for climate change

In May 2019, Environment Canterbury declared a climate emergency, highlighting both the urgent need to address the issue, and the work already being done to help the region respond.

We are increasing our understanding of the risks from climate change and how we can adapt to them and transition to a low emissions future. We are building resilience to these risks by engaging with our partners, stakeholders and the community.

This work includes:

Climate change adaptation
Transition to a low emissions future
Organisational climate change risks and opportunities

More information about the climate change conversation for Canterbury can be found on the It’s time Canterbury website.

How are we tracking on our Levels of Service?

Level of Service 23: Raise awareness of how the community can be part of adapting to climate change.

To achieve this Level of Service we will:

23.1: Provide information, advice, tools and resources through climate change communication projects.
23.2: Increase the number of people who engage with our campaign about what climate change means in Canterbury.
23.3: Complete development of a Climate Change Action Plan in collaboration with the community to build resilience to climate change risks in Canterbury.

How are we doing: The ‘It’s Time Canterbury’ campaign went live across the region early in 2023, featuring print, digital, radio and social media advertising. In quarter two, the first newsletter for the financial year was published, along with paid content on our Facebook feed (boosted posts for the newsletter and the Progress towards Canterbury’s climate action plan story). We have achieved a 5% increase in our website followers and newsletter subscribers, and are very close to seeing the same increase in Facebook followers. Our website sessions are tracking well for quarters one and two, with a 47% increase on the same period last year.

Work is progressing to develop a region-wide Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan in collaboration with Canterbury councils, with planning workshops hosted by the Canterbury Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), to long-list and analyse climate actions. The CCWG and Reference Group will continue to finalise and prioritise climate actions as well as developing funding, monitoring and evaluation plans to begin drafting the partnership plan.

Our Climate Action Plan is also progressing well.

On track

How are we doing on our key initiatives?

Support organisational climate risk reporting (for Environment Canterbury)

How are we doing: The final organisational Climate Change Risk Assessment was received and staff will now assess the implications and evaluate how to progress organisational climate risk reporting.

On track