Phil Goff to prioritise clean transport, environment, climate change in next term

Phil Goff launched his re-election campaign today, with protecting Auckland’s environment and tackling climate change key priorities for his second term.

Mr Goff also emphasised that this is a mayoral election of starkly contrasting values and visions for Auckland’s future.

The Mayor’s first term included record levels of investment to protect and enhance Auckland’s environment. This included work to dramatically reduce sewage overflows within a decade as opposed to 30 years, a massive increase in funds to stop kauri dieback spreading and pest eradication. He also surpassed a pledge to plant a million native trees. The Mayor also promised to lead a campaign to ban plastic bags, which he advocated for, and the Government enacted last month.

“Aucklanders have a clear choice this mayoral election,” said Phil Goff. “As Mayor, I will work to safeguard our children’s future and our city’s environment and move Auckland towards being a 21st-century city that competes with the best cities globally.

“My opponent is stuck in the past, and has no answers for the congestion, pollution and climate change challenges Auckland faces now.

“Spending more time in traffic jams while our city chokes on petrol fumes is not the future Aucklanders want, but that will be the result if my opponent is elected.

“A Tamihere mayoralty will set Auckland back; my next term will take Auckland forward.

“I’m really proud of my record to protect our environment over the last three years, but there is so much more to be done so we can leave our children and grandchildren a decent legacy.

“Part of leaving a good legacy for future generations is acting on our most pressing issue – climate change. Transport emissions make up 47% of overall carbon emissions. That has to change, and we need to take responsibly and lead that change.

“Contrary to what my opponent says, there is no war on cars, but there is one on the congestion that hinders people from getting around the city, and on pollution.

“While I am pleased we are planting over 2.5 million trees in six years, we can’t just plant our way out of climate change – we need to reduce emissions.

“Council must take the lead. This is why, under my mayoralty, from next year Council will purchase only electric and hybrid vehicles for its passenger cars.

“I have also started discussions with Government, so we can bring forward by years the conversion of our bus fleet to electric and hydrogen.

“Under my mayoralty, the days of dirty diesel buses on Auckland’s streets will be numbered.

“I will also be pushing for the electrification of the railway from Papakura to Pukekohe under the Auckland Transport Alignment Project to start as early as next year.

“Clean transport is a key part to tackling our climate change and environmental challenges, as well as making our city a better place to live.

“I am the only candidate in this election showing leadership and vision on these issues,” said Mr Goff.

Phil Goff to prioritise clean transport, environment, climate change in next term

Policy document by Phil Goff.

In my second term as Mayor, I propose that:

From 2020, Auckland Council will only purchase electric or hybrid passenger vehicles. Council cars tend to be highly used as they are part of a shared fleet. Therefore, each car we convert to electric or hybrid will have a compounding impact on reducing carbon emissions.

Council’s current fleet optimisation plan, at my request, will see a reduction in fleet car numbers. It is expected that over the lifetime of this policy capital costs for electric and hybrid procurement will come down. With current pricing, this policy will cost between $6-6.5 million with higher capital costs more than offset by operating costs being cheaper.

Auckland Transport accelerates converting Auckland’s bus fleet from diesel to electric. Currently Auckland Transport only operates 3 electric buses with plans for a dozen more over the next year.

With buses emitting most of the carbon emissions coming from public transport, a progressive and rapid electrification will cut emissions as well as black carbon levels which are high in the middle of the city centre.

While capital costs for electric buses can be much higher than diesel buses, operating costs are up to 50% lower. In order to reduce the capital costs, I have already started discussions with Government to extend its electric rebate scheme to buses. This additional support on capital costs will help us to bring forward the purchase of electric buses.

We work with Government to accelerate the start of electrification of the trainline from Papakura to Pukekohe within two years. This will not only reduce our emissions but also eliminate the need for a transfer for those travelling between Pukekohe and Papakura.

We work with Government on an action plan that would enable New Zealand to achieve key measures to reduce carbon emissions including:

o Electrifying a third of cars on our roads before 2030, a goal achieved by Norway in 2019.

o Raising pollution emission standards on new cars by 2030 to the levels set in Japan in 2014.

o Improving car occupancy from an average level of occupancy of 1.5 now to 2 by 2030. Achieving these goals will be necessary for Auckland to reduce carbon emissions to levels required worldwide to keep global warming to 1.5 C

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