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·
The
board acknowledges that much of our community is experiencing hardship due
to increases in the cost of living, and that adding any new targeted rate
will have a further impact on household budgets. In our consideration of
whether to support the climate action targeted rate, we have carefully
weighed this reality against the urgent need for climate action and the
benefits for our community from the proposed climate action package.
·
We
note that council has committed to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030
and transition to net zero emissions by 2050, as part of Te
Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan. The
board has previously supported this plan and these emissions reduction targets.
·
We
note that climate change will significantly impact the communities that
our board represents. Auckland Council’s 2019 climate change risk
assessment rated most coastal areas of Manurewa very high on the climate
change impact index, representing exposure and sensitivity to climate
change, while most of Manurewa was rated as having a very low capacity to
adapt to climate change. We believe that we have a responsibility to act
to protect the future of our Manurewa community for our tamariki and mokopuna.
·
We
note that the proposed climate action package would provide our community
with direct benefits in addition to reduction of emissions, including:
o
investment
for communities of greatest need and addressing inequities in
Auckland’s transport system
o
improved
public transport options
o
improved
walkways and cycleways
o
increased
planting of urban ngahere to address the low canopy cover in Manurewa.
·
We
note that climate change is an issue of great importance to Māori,
given their values of kaitiakitanga and of managing the impacts of people
on the environment and on mauri. We support collaborating with mana whenua
iwi to address the impact of climate change on Māori communities and
marae.
·
For
these reasons, the board supports the introduction of the proposed climate
action targeted rate.
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