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Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie does not want to sign the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Climate Change Declaration.
On Wednesday she told RNZ the declaration was “politically charged”.
But Dave Cull, president of LGNZ, says the declaration is purely aspirational and no one is being pressured into signing up.
“It’s not a binding contract; there are no specific goals.
“It’s just a recognition that we, the communities, need to be looking to change the way their communities operate and reduce their carbon footprint.”
Cull said the idea that the Climate Change Declaration was “politically charged” was a misunderstanding and “no one’s putting the hard word on them.”
“My suspicion is that any pressure to sign comes from communities going to their councils and saying look, this is something we would like you to do.”
Fifty-five councils have signed the document which asks councils to promote walking and public transport, improve resource efficiency and healthy homes, and support renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Cull, who is the mayor Dunedin, was the first mayor to sign the declaration in 2017 and said he was motivated by the situation in South Dunedin.
The North Island councils still to sign up: Manawatu District Council, Tararua District Council, Taupo District Council, Far North District Council, Thames-Coromandel District Council, Ōpōtiki District Council, Hamilton City Council, Ōtorohanga District Council, Wairoa District Council, Horowhenua District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Kaipara District Council, Whangārei District Council, Stratford District Council.
The South Island councils still to sign up: Buller District Council, Hurunui District Council, Timaru District Council, Mackenzie District Council, Waimate District Council, Waitaki District Council, West Coast Regional Council, Westland District Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council.
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