New reports have been released showing a clearer picture of the scale and urgency New Zealand faces over climate change, along with guidance on managing and adapting to the results of global warming.
“It’s important that New Zealanders have a clear picture of the potential impacts of climate change so that communities, local and central government, business and other sectors of our economy can make well-informed decisions about how we build resilience and adapt,” Climate Change Minister James Shaw said.
The Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group’s Stocktake report shows the size of the task to build New Zealand’s resilience to rising sea levels, a warmer climate, extreme weather and other impacts of climate change.
The working group’s panel of experts includes representatives from central and local government, finance and insurance sectors, science and communities.
The report shows that New Zealand has significant information about what is happening to the climate and the impacts of change. However, not all of this information is in forms that support decision-making, and there are some key gaps in our knowledge, Shaw said.
According to Shaw, the report also notes that New Zealand is in the early stages of planning and currently lacks a coordinated plan on how to adapt to climate change. While some sectors and areas are proactive, in general, we react to events rather than preparing for them, he said.
Another report, the Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance, provides information to councils and communities on how to manage and adapt to increased coastal-hazard risks posed by climate change and rising sea levels.
Shaw said the Guidance will encourage good decision-making so that New Zealand faces fewer risks from climate change in coastal areas.
The minister said further work on adaptation is underway. The Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group is working on another report, which will give recommendations on how New Zealand can effectively adapt to the impacts of climate change. The report is due in March and will be available at the Ministry for the Environment’s website,
www.mfe.govt.nz.
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