Auckland's Low Carbon Action Plan
I became interested. Firstly it struck me as an odd target to make, when month by month the science around anthropogenic climate change is looking shakier. Such huge cost to our economy seems odd when the benefits to the environment seem highly unlikely. Why would we commit to this?
So I decided to check out the website. There was a nice brief 85 page document with a large number of action plans. Seriously who has time for that? Nice that some person being paid rate money (i.e. a net drain on the economy) can afford the time to put together such a document. Pity the poor sap who actually contributes to the economy who has to read through it.
I did read through it. I was appalled. You should be too. Can I strongly suggest to citizens of Auckland that you read this plan, or at least the Executive Summary which is only 25 pages. Once you have read this plan, make a quick online submission.
Below are some highlights from my submission.
Question 3A: You have indicated that you don't think we have identified the key issues. What issues do you think we have missed?
I believe that the whole goal of reducing Greenhouse gases by 40% is fatally flawed. First of all the science regarding the harm of these gases is inconclusive, and the evidence that GHG actually have a detrimental effect on our climate is looking shakier by the year. Why are we reducing energy consumption, when consumption of energy suggests a pumping economy. Surely a city that has an economy moving in a positive direction should actually be increasing energy consumption, not reducing it back to levels of the 1990s.
Question 5A: You have indicated that you don't think we have identified appropriate targets. What targets do you believe we should set?
Example 2: Action 3 of the Travel plan suggests that pricing tools will be investigated to help manage travel demand. This sounds suspiciously like making it more expensive for people to travel freely about their city in their own cars. Aucklanders do not support this.
I do not have the time to pick holes in every single action point of the document. I actually work a job that produces something of worth for the economy. My essential problem with this plan is that it is placing more controls and costs on the citizens of Auckland. Instead of Mayor Len Brown's dream of Auckland becoming the world's most liveable city, we will end up with an unaffordable city.
Question 6B: What else do you think we could be doing?
Less is more......The city doesn't need people running around thinking of ways to spend money we do not have.