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Action area: Community climate action

Wellingtonians are already working to reduce emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change. We amplify their impact by providing seed funding, advice and guidance.

In the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan (LTP) we also committed to delivering a Community Adaptation Planning Programme, to support high-risk communities to adapt to climate change impacts. 

The Council has supported communities and businesses in a number of ways since Te Atakura was adopted, including through initiatives like the Zero Together community sustainability programme, community climate action and support, community climate leaders training course, the Climate and Sustainability Fund, and a Let’s Talk Shop sustainability project with the retail sector.

 

Case study: Our changing city

In January 2022 Wellington City Council won an award for innovation from the prestigious Bloomberg Global Mayors Challenge. The Council was named one of 15 worldwide winners to receive US$1million. Funding was used to deliver Wellington’s digital city model tool, which aims to create accessible and engaging experiences for the public to explore the changing shape of Wellington, looking to the past to seek solutions for a more resilient future. An interactive touchscreen experience for Motukairangi and the surrounding area (including Miramar, Kilbirnie and Lyall Bay) was developed and tested with the feedback from more than 600 Wellingtonians. Called Our Changing City, it was launched as a pilot in late October.


In early 2025, following refinement of the tool based on feedback from the community, it will be scaled up to support city-wide education on climate change impacts and adaptation as part of the Council’s Local Climate Adaptation Planning Programme.

Central and regional government policy settings 

In the government’s second Emissions Reduction Plan, several initiatives that provided support for individuals, communities and businesses to reduce their emissions have been removed. The focus is on incentivising adoption of low and zero emission technologies such as battery and hybrid heavy goods vehicles for business and further R&D. Whilst supportive of investment into R&D of low carbon solutions, the Council is mindful of the risk of placing faith in new technical solutions to deliver emissions reductions rather than supporting communities shift to existing proven lower carbon solutions.

The Council’s role

In April 2023, Council adopted the Climate Adaptation Community Engagement Roadmap which sets out the approach to planning for climate change in Wellington over the next six+ years. Community participation will be vital to the process of making difficult adaptation decisions for the city’s long-term resilience.

Education and practical support 

We have been working with communities who want to learn more about the causes and impacts of climate change, and take action to reduce their emissions and increase their resilience. By sharing resources and the wero (challenge) with communities and using community-led approaches, they will increase their capability and capacity to respond to climate challenge with action that both suits and is sustained by them. The Council is focusing on equity in our approach, seeking opportunities to work with communities that are traditionally less engaged with government programmes. Our goal is to provide them with developmental opportunities similar to those who engage with the Council more often.

Activities to support community climate action over the last year include: 

  • Face to face connection with 49 different community groups on community climate activities, and specific support provided to 22 groups. 
  • Development and delivery of a community climate leadership training course in partnership with Voice of Aroha. 
  • Delivery of a Wellington-specific community climate conversation webinar.
  • Participation in and supporting community events. 

To support individuals, communities and businesses to take climate action, we want to increase the understanding of effective climate action. We intend to build on Wellington’s climate action reputation and profile the innovative businesses leading the way.

Incentives and funding

The Climate and Sustainability Fund was launched in 2022 to boost climate action across the city. With an annual budget of $250,000 per year, it has funded 21 projects across five rounds totalling $672,040 up to and including FY24.

The fund has increased community action on climate change and has supported: 

  • More than 120 climate events or workshops attended by over 3,500 people. 
  • Hundreds of bikes repaired and regifted to people and whānau who may not have other access to bikes. 
  • 57 businesses learning about climate change and supported to make emissions reductions plans. 
  • More than 10 Wellington churches becoming eco churches and taking action together. 
  • Four groups developing Wellington-specific educational resources for a range of audiences. 
  • Three Māori-led initiatives for Māori whānau to grow and share skills related to māra kai, mahinga kai, rongoā, cooking sustainably, active transport and more.