Wellington is facing rising sea levels

Media Release

At the Wellington City Council Strategy and Policy Committee briefing of December 1 we were shown a computer model of the areas of Wellington that would be flooded by sea level rise as a consequence of global warming. One of the areas that may be impacted is the site of the Indoor Sports Centre. There is no doubt there will be consequences that will be beyond our control even if Wellington were to reduce green house gas emissions. Without sea walls and levies much of Wellington will be lost and that may include the Indoor Community Sports Centre and much of the Golden Mile. The fact that the Council has been ambivalent about climate change means it has made really bad decisions.

Recently I was in Hong Kong and began to think about the fact that every apartment had an air con unit that is raising the outside temperature. These growing cities are super heating the environment at a scale that is unbelievable. I remember seeing an interview with the Indian Minister of Science where she said that the West had been ignoring the effects of polluting and now it was India’s turn. So climate change, peak oil and debt remain unattended by Wellington. We can do little to change the impact of climate change but we should have done more to prepare. Matt Simons, energy investment banker, is talking about oil at US$500 - $600 a barrel. The electric car won’t stop that nor will it be produced in sufficient numbers. Given the high carbon footprint of electric cars in production they will do nothing to change what is happening with climate change.

Page 8 of the report should ring alarm bells.

What are the flooding scenarios for the Hutt Valley, Kilbirnie, Miramar and other low lying areas?

Analysis has been undertaken for Kilbirnie and indicates that the area is vulnerable to sea level rise. Other areas will be investigated for vulnerability through studies proposed over the next two years.

Councillor Bryan Pepperell

Wellington City

Southern Ward