Kaipara District Council has passed a resolution to sign the Local Government New Zealand Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration.
The declaration represents an aspirational call to action on behalf of regional and territorial authorities in the face of climate change. With two harbours and a large coastline, the council said Kaipara has significant exposure to predicted sea level rise, one big climate change risk.
According to Mayor Jason Smith, the council is already engaged actively in climate change work across many areas and this declaration sends a further clear signal that it is taking this seriously.
“I’m proud Kaipara is standing up here, joining with others declaring climate change to be an issue we’re working on,” Smith said. “We’re not alone with our concerns, and the history books will show the timing of Kaipara’s aspirational declaration aligns with what’s going on in other places.”
The mayor is referring to the same move made by the UK Parliament in London, England, which declared a Climate Emergency for the United Kingdom.
Smith said he will sign the declaration within a week, noting his signature will join leaders of over 60 other councils, who have already signed the LGNZ Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration.
