The Christchurch City Council has joined London, Vancouver, and Basel who have declared a climate emergency.
Councillor Swiggs is in full support, as he made clear when interviewed on Garage FM.
Swiggs said he was concerned about carbon levels in the atmosphere and sea level rise.
"Last time the carbon levels in the atmosphere were at these levels, the city was underwater."
By combating climate change now, we still had time to fix it, Swiggs said.
He said one of the ways in which the city council planned to reduce carbon emissions was by planting trees in the red zone.
"We are about to own the red zone and that is where we are planning to plant the trees," Swiggs said.