ECan Chair Jenny Hughey and councillors
It is great to be here to reinforce our council’s commitment to working with the community, businesses and the Government to reduce our district’s greenhouse gas emissions.
We have a 2030 goal to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of the baseline we established in 2016/17.
As you know, the transportation sector is a key source of the district's emissions, estimated at over 50%. On-road petrol and diesel transportation make up 36% of our emissions.
So, it is not surprising that transportation is the key target for our emissions reduction planning.
We have already been doing a lot of work through encouraging mode shift through our investment in a network of major cycleways, and the connecting routes.
And we have invested in “Take Charge Christchurch”, which encourages the uptake of battery electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
The two battery electric truck projects being launched today are the sort of collaboration we absolutely need to see. They both demonstrate commitment and innovation from a number of sector stakeholders.
I would like to congratulate the nine companies who have invested in these two projects for their leadership and collaboration as well as their financial investment.
I acknowledge and thank the Civil Construction and Maintenance Services Project companies - Citycare Property, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction, Higgins Contractors and Isaac Construction.
And the four delivery companies in the Shopping District Battery Electric Truck Delivery Services Project - Bidfood, Hall’s, PBT Transport and Toll New Zealand.
I would also like to thank Northlands and Northlink Shopping Centres and Christchurch Airport for their involvement in the shopping district project.
And finally, I want to thank FUSO NZ, EECA, EROAD, Mercury NZ and the TR Group for your significant involvement and support.
This model of collaboration is how we will reach our emission reduction targets.
And now it is my absolute pleasure to officially launch the Civil Construction and Maintenance Services Project and the Shopping District Battery Electric Truck Delivery Services Project.
Well done and thank you once more.