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The Glenbrook Steel Mill in Auckland, New Zealand, plans to install an electric arc furnace (EAF) by 2026 to replace half of its coal-based ironmaking. Supported by a $300 million investment and GIDI co-funding, the project will use a 30 MW renewable-energy agreement with Contact Energy to leverage New Zealand's approximately 90% renewable grid. This transition is expected to reduce the mill's annual emissions by up to 1 million tonnes of CO2e.

The report examines how 13 global cities are evolving their climate adaptation measurement strategies, moving from simple output tracking to outcome-based evaluations. It highlights the importance of collaborative governance, the need for structured internal knowledge management to prevent the loss of institutional memory, and the integration of community-centric approaches to ensure equity and inclusivity. The document identifies systemic challenges such as data silos, resource constraints, and legal restrictions like GDPR, while proposing strategies to strengthen data infrastructure and foster a culture of continuous learning.

The document analyzes adaptation planning across 136 large coastal cities, finding that over 50% lack formal plans and most existing policies fail to align with actual climate risks. It introduces the ARPA and APC frameworks to measure policy alignment and credibility, noting a significant gap between planning and implementation. Furthermore, it highlights a critical lack of outcome-based monitoring and evaluation, with 95% of indicators focusing on outputs. The brief argues for the integration of 'subaltern' knowledge to improve the social legitimacy and effectiveness of urban adaptation.

The report examines how six cities (Athens, Auckland, Barcelona, Glasgow, Lima, and Montreal) are evolving their climate adaptation tracking. It finds a general tendency to focus on outputs rather than outcomes, but highlights innovative approaches such as participatory planning in Lima, vulnerability mapping in Glasgow, and the creation of 'climate shelters' in Barcelona to better measure actual benefits to populations.

New Zealand successfully pursued an elimination strategy for Covid-19, declaring itself 'Covid Free' on June 8, 2020, by shifting from mitigation to a stringent suppression approach in late March. This success is attributed to the decisive leadership and communication of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, reliance on expert scientific evidence, a centrally managed political structure, and high levels of public trust and social solidarity. The government prioritized health over economic interests, supporting this with wage packages and welfare to maintain compliance. The response also addressed historical distrust among Māori and sought to prevent the stigmatization of infected individuals.

The report highlights New Zealand's climate leadership through policies like the Zero Carbon Bill 2019 and the ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling. It notes that while the green bond market is small, it is growing, with total green and sustainability debt from New Zealand entities reaching NZD3.7bn. The document identifies significant investment needs in infrastructure, particularly in Auckland, and explores five key sectors for green investment: renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water management, sustainable waste management, and green buildings.

As of June 30, 2018, Australia and New Zealand have established themselves as leaders in the use of the Climate Bonds Standard, despite differing national climate policy environments. Australia's market is driven by major banks and sub-sovereign entities, with significant issuance in energy, transport, and buildings. New Zealand's market is more nascent, featuring a world-first green borrowing programme for geothermal energy. Both nations are noted for high levels of certification and best-practice reporting, though further policy support and project pipelines are needed to meet Paris Agreement targets.

The report concludes that Auckland Council's Green Bond issuance process meets the required international standards in all material respects. The bond's proceeds are designated for financing and refinancing electrified public transport trains and equipment that comply with low carbon land transport criteria. The assurance process included reviewing policies, confirming asset eligibility, and interviewing personnel to verify that the council's framework for project selection, management of proceeds, and annual reporting is aligned with the Climate Bonds Standard and Green Bond Principles.