Context
The Queenstown Lakes district economy depends on international tourism. Despite decades of aspiring for economic diversification, economist Benji Pedersen’s 2020 report to the Council showed that over the past two decades, our district’s economy has become more concentrated in the tourism sector, not less.
Our economy depends on people flying long distances to visit us, a cause of significant greenhouse gas emissions that are not attributed because they fall outside New Zealand’s borders. While it’s clear that these emissions are directly associated with our district’s economy, there is no internationally agreed framework that connects the two.
At FlightPlan2050, we undertook a substantial research project to quantify those emissions. That report is available on our publications page, or down load it HERE.
The report’s findings are sobering. If we acknowledge the flight emissions of our international visitors, we find the Queenstown Lakes district economy is by far the most polluting in New Zealand. Each dollar earned from international visitors to our district causes 4.4 times more emissions than the New Zealand dairy industry.
Today, we presented our report to the Council.
QLDC full council meeting
March 23, 2023
Kia ora, I am John Hilhorst representing FlightPlan2050.
I’d like to congratulate you on your unanimous endorsement of the Destination Management Plan at your last meeting. And I’d like to acknowledge the leadership and courage of our business community for the plan’s Carbon Zero by 2030 aspirations.
This report (International visitor flight emissions – Queenstown Lakes District) is a comprehensive assessment of the flight emissions of our international visitors, and it brings focus to the challenge before us.
The analysis presents evidence that our district’s economy is New Zealand’s most polluting, with the highest emissions per resident, per job, and per dollar earned.
It shows our district’s economy produces 227 tonnes of emissions per resident, by far the worst of all New Zealand’s regions.
We also have the most polluting economy, with by far the highest emissions per dollar earned than any other region.
When compared with dairy, our international visitor economy is 4.4 times worse in terms of its emissions per dollar earned.
And it’s set to get worse.
The visitor growth projections in Council’s annual and spatial plans would add 340 million tonnes of emissions by 2050. That’s more than four times the current annual total of the whole of New Zealand.
The most powerful of all possible stakeholders is here – this council. It controls our District Plan, the Annual Plans, and the Spatial Plan. It owns the airport which owns most of Frankton Flats.
Using these, you could structurally change the urban landscape of our district to systemically develop an alternative economic foundation.
You, the people at this table. We ask that you act boldly.
Thank you.
Ngā mihi e noho rā