Council's leader on climate change response resigns
The man tasked with spearheading Nelson City Councils climate emergency response has resigned, just over a year after taking up the role . Chris Cameron said personal circumstances spurred his decision. Cameron started as the councils Climate Change Champion in December 2019, a job created after the council declared a climate emergency in May of that year. He said plans to move his family from Alexandra to Nelson had not come to fruition - not least because of Covid-19 - and his family wanted to respect its ties in other parts of the country. READ MORE: * Climate Change: It's our choice whether we react or adapt * Nelson's climate champion wants communities to be part of 'visionary' process * Climate charter given nod in first Nelson City Council meeting Cameron's resignation came amid criticism of the council's backing for costly infrastructure projects near the Maitai River mouth. Climate campaigners said councillors shouldnt have opted for a proposal to build a $44 million library close to the river, or a $16m revamp of the councils main offices , pending the release of full information about the climate change-related flood risk at those sites. The council was preparing a response to the concerns. Cameron declined to comment on the council decisions. He said there was a shortage of expertise to help councils grappling with climate change impacts and adaptation, and he was moving into consultancy space. What Im hoping is I can work with councils across the country and with central government and other organisations, to start to really consider how to deal with climate impacts. Thats a long term, and ongoing discussion with the community. The Governments decision to replace the Resource Management Act with legislation including a Climate Change Adaptation Act (CCA), would allow councils to think about climate impacts and adaption in a way perhaps councils haven't been able to easily do in the past, in terms of their mandate, Cameron said. The CCA was intended to help councils address issues associated with managed retreat, and funding and financing adaptation. The councils group manager of strategy and communications Nicky McDonald said Camerons resignation was a loss for the council. McDonald said as part of the councils continued commitment to climate change it would this month welcome Daniela Ramirez as its new climate change adaptation adviser. It would also replace Cameron.