Climate change and resilience strategy

To support our work around the climate emergency (declared by Council on 23 May 2019), we’re developing a climate change and resilience strategy for Kāpiti.

Our vision, set out in our Climate Emergency Action Framework, is a thriving, vibrant and strong Kāpiti that has reduced its carbon footprint significantly, transitioned to a low-carbon future, and prepared for challenges and opportunities that come from responding to the climate crisis – in short, a thriving environment, vibrant economy, and strong communities. 

Our work with the Climate and Resilience Think Tank will help inform this work over the next 12 months.

What it is

This strategy will cover:

• mitigation (to significantly reduce Kāpiti Coast District’s carbon footprint)
• adaptation (to actively prepare for the challenges and opportunities arising from a changing climate by building resilient communities and infrastructure)
• transition (to support our communities and businesses make a just and long-lasting transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient future; no one gets left behind)
• recovery (to ensure effective service and business continuity following major climate events; getting our communities and businesses back on their feet). 

What's happening

At September 2023, we’re in phase 1 of this work. We’re working with mana whenua and the community to develop a high-level direction of travel (DOT) document to deliver to Council by December 2023. We'll then take this to the public for feedback in February/March 2024.

The DOT will set out:

• where we are on our greenhouse emissions performance and climate change journe
• our proposed focus areas
• proposed pathways to rapidly reduce our district's carbon footprint
• how we can prepare with our community for a changing climate. 

We'll work closely with mana whenua to apply te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) principles and ensure a mana-enhancing partnership is nurtured in our journey towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient Kāpiti.

Next steps

After public feedback in February 2024, we’ll draft the final version of our climate change and resilience strategy.

This will integrate our Long-term Plan (LTP) consultation outcomes, and recommendations falling out of the Takutai Kāpiti project, which are expected in July 2024.

The strategy will be supported by:

• a separate action plan, updated every two to three years
• Council’s annual Carbon and Energy Management Plan
• Takutai Kāpiti: Our Coastal Adaptation Project.

Timeline