How many climate change actions do you get for $1 billion?

OPINION: How many climate change actions do you get for $1 billion?

It’s a matter that matters because public consultation is about to begin on the groundbreaking target rate proposed by Auckland Council, intended to accelerate the reduction of climate-damaging emissions.

The Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) would raise $574 million from ratepayers over a decade, with the remainder to come from government funding, and a modeled increase in tariff revenue of $127 million through additional public transport.

The work he would fund is a work that must be done.

Faster replacement of diesel buses and ferries with low or zero carbon versions, many more frequent services, more walking and cycling routes and planting trees where they are needed most.

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The fact is, how much does the CATR contribute to the goal of halving carbon emissions by 2030, and should transport emissions drop by 64%?

More importantly, will the introduction of CATR make Aucklanders think that the job of reducing emissions is ‘done’ and that their lives – and their habits – can go on as they are?

The answer to “what is the impact of CATR?” at the moment is a sobering question, not something the board has talked about in public.

“Based on current modeling assumptions, it is estimated that the transport components of the package could reduce emissions by 47,000 tonnes of CO2 over 10 years and 12,000 tonnes of CO2 per year in 2032,” the council said in a statement to Things.

That may seem like a lot of carbon, even over 10 years. But it’s not.

Auckland must reduce transport emissions each year by millions of tonnes.

The Council stressed that the modeling used to derive these figures may be inadequate, that more work is being done and that the CATR is by no means the total of its emissions reduction work.

“Estimating emission reductions from transport interventions is difficult due to the complex nature of the transport system and behavior change,” the council said.

But one of the risks of CATR is that it could distract both politicians and Aucklanders from what really needs to be done. People just need to drive a lot less.

This will require swift, bold and possibly unpopular political action, and Auckland will have to do all it can – without necessarily waiting for government action.

The scale of the challenge was underlined in an opinion poll carried out by the municipal agency Auckland Transport (AT).

Respondents believed in climate change (82%), supported immediate action (78%) and agreed it would impact their way of life (59%).

Only 43% said they would reduce driving in the coming year, or at least consider it – even though it is estimated that private motoring will have to decrease by 40% by 2030.

Questions about the impact of CATR were raised publicly by Councilor Wayne Walker, who believed there might be faster, better and cheaper ways to reduce emissions and change behavior.

“The people of Auckland and the choices they make make a huge contribution to reducing our emissions,” he said.

There is more to come on how this could be achieved, with the council and AT working on a Transport Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), a more practical exercise on action and timing.

The target rate and what it can accomplish is an important step. But the heavy lifting is elsewhere, and ultimately, in the hands of the people of Auckland.