All Aboard Aotearoa appeals JR decision

All Aboard Aotearoa: Decarbonise Transport by 2030

Contact: Zoe Brentnall
Mobile: 021 374 206
Email: zoe@allaboard.nz

Against Court Decision on Auckland Transport Plan Lawful

An appeal has been lodged against the High Court’s decision that Auckland’s transport plan is lawful despite not reducing emissions.

The original challenge was brought by All Aboard Aotearoa Inc, a coalition of climate and transport advocacy groups, in relation to the Regional Land Transport Plan for 2021-2031. The plan would increase Auckland’s land transport emissions by 6% by 2031 compared to 2016 levels. Even with government interventions in the form of Clean Car Standards and biofuels improvements, only a 1% reduction would be achieved. All Aboard Aotearoa argued that AT and the Council acted unlawfully in adopting the plan.

The High Court decided that AT and the Council had not acted unlawfully in adopting the RLTP.

All Aboard has filed an appeal against the decision. “We maintain that a transport plan which does nothing to reduce emissions must be unlawful. If it is lawful, then the law needs to be changed to compel councils and transport agencies to make the emissions cuts everyone accepts are necessary. Either way this appeal is an important step towards getting our elected officials to take meaningful climate action” says All Aboard Spokesperson and LCANZI Committee member, Zoe Brentnall.

About All Aboard Aotearoa

All Aboard Aotearoa Inc is a coalition of climate and transport advocacy groups, including Generation Zero, Bike Auckland, Movement, Women in Urbanism, Greenpeace Aotearoa, Lawyers for Climate Action NZ and others. All Aboard Aotearoa is calling for decarbonisation of transport by 2030 because this is the best way for Aotearoa to contribute to the global effort to limit warming to 1.5C. It also provides a unique opportunity to re-think our transport system with the potential for significant intergenerational benefits for health, quality of life, and social equity as well as environmental benefits.

The Court case follows All Aboard Aotearoa’s submission on the Regional Land Transport Plan and a presentation to the Auckland Council Planning Committee to highlight the key messages of the All Aboard Aotearoa campaign and the steps Council needs to take.

All Aboard Aotearoa’s legal submission and other case files may be accessed here after the hearing starts. Follow updates here.

The coalition has also penned an open letter to the Minister of Transport, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport, the Mayor, Chief Executive and Councillors of Auckland Council, and the Boards of Directors and Chief Executives of Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport calling for urgent transformation of the transport system. Follow All Aboard Aotearoa on Twitter here.

Contacts: info@allaboard.nz