WDC Appoints Climate Change Advisor

Published on 25 October 2022

Climate change is an increasing challenge for the Waitaki District and has become a core part of planning at Waitaki District Council. To help the Council and District respond to this, Chelsea Clyde has been appointed to the newly created role of Climate Change Advisor.

Waitaki District Council Chief Executive, Alex Parmley said, “Climate Change is a key issue we face as a district and council, and which is having an increased impact on our communities. We are at a crucial time and need to act to help reduce the impacts of climate change. Council is progressing on several projects in response to climate change impacts and the new role of Climate Change Advisor is critical in support of these works.”

Our climate is changing globally and is expected to continue to change over the coming decades. The combination of warmer temperatures and more extreme weather events will result in increased slips and erosion, forest fire, variable lake levels and changing underground water levels.

The purpose of the role is to bring a focus to ensuring that climate change and its implications are planned for and dealt with, and to lead the understanding and awareness of organisational and local climate risk and vulnerability.

Joining Council from Tauranga in June as Resource Management Planner, Chelsea Clyde is up for the new appointment as Climate Change Advisor. “Having a background in biodiversity and ecology along with my recent work in resource management, I have been exposed to current impacts within the Waitaki District and our ecosystem. I look forward to bringing my experience and passion for the environment and community to this new role.”

Chelsea Clyde has also volunteered extensively having spent time in the North Island helping on coastal planting projects, trapping with DOC, and more recently volunteering to help protect the yellow eyed penguins at Bushy Beach.  

Heritage and Planning Manager, David Campbell said, “This new role is the first in many steps as Council moves toward becoming more climate-resilient, reducing our emissions and becoming recognised as a climate change leader.”

ENDS