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Climate change related activities or initiatives undertaken by councils

The documents available on this page are published by other organisations and are listed here to facilitate sharing of information on climate change effects at the local level. The Ministry for the Environment is not responsible for the content or reliability of the documents published by other organisations and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Case studies

Best practice

Hawkes Bay Regional Council: Draft Regional Coastal Environment Plan

October 2005

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is currently reviewing its draft Regional Coastal Environment Plan. The review includes consideration of the coastal environment, as well as the coastal marine area. One aspect presently under review is whether the draft Plan should be amended to include "inundation risk zones" - areas at risk of a one-in-50-years flood - within which building would be banned or restricted. A council report tabled for consideration proposes two zones: an extreme risk zone within the present erosion risk zone (already in the draft plan), and a moderate risk zone, covering areas on the landward side of the erosion zone. In both cases, predicted rises in sea levels would be taken into account when setting the boundaries of the zones in which combined tide and storm surge could cause a one-in-50-years flood.

Community-based Dune Management for the Mitigation of Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Effects - A guide for Local Authorities (PDF 796 KB)

September 2005 Prepared by Jim Dahm (Eco Nomos Ltd), Greg Jenks (Environment Bay of Plenty) and David Bergin (Forest Research).

This report brings together lessons from successful dune care/restoration programmes across New Zealand to provide guidelines for councils wanting to initiate dune restoration programmes, both to mitigate coastal hazards (including climate change effects such as projected sea level rise) and to restore the beneficial natural and human use values associated with coastal dunes.

A changing climate for business - Business planning for the impacts of climate change (PDF 1.1 MB)

June 2005 Published by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)

This report provides clear, practical advice help businesses begin to address the implications of a changing climate in their business planning. Based on the experience of a 2004 pilot project involving selected trade associations and professional bodies, the report provides key messages and suggested options for responding to a changing climate. Aimed at business decision-makers, the report provides detailed information on expected climate change and techniques for understanding and assessing likely threats and opportunities.

Tackling Climate Change in Cambridgeshire: Cambridgeshire County Council Climate Change Strategy (PDF 2.9 MB)

March 2005 Published by Cambridgeshire County Council, UK

This council strategy to tackle climate change is based around 5 key themes: energy, transport, resource efficiency, adaptation (preparing for climate change) and public awareness. The strategy builds on Cambridgeshire County Council's existing environmental policies, which monitor wider environmental performance and awareness. It highlights work the council is carrying out to address both the causes and the consequences of climate change. It is intended to guide all council activities. The council will report back on action under the strategy in 2009.

A warm response - Our climate challenge: A Devon County Council Strategy for 2005... and the foreseeable future

March 2005 Published by Devon County Council, UK

This consultation document outlines the Devon County Council's strategy to address the challenges of climate change at a local level in line with its commitments under the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change (July 2004). The document comprises a draft plan to address the causes of climate change in the region, and identify ways in which local communities can adapt to the effects of climate change. Through the draft strategy, the Council has set out a blueprint to make a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations and to encourage all sectors in the local community to take the opportunity to reduce their emissions too.

Climate Change Adaptation: Guidance on adapting New Zealand's built environment for the impacts of climate change (PDF 1.0 MB)

October 2004 Published by BRANZ Ltd (Authors Michael O'Connell and Rachel Hargreaves). BRANZ Study Report SR130

A best practice guidance document which provides information on the adaptation of the New Zealand built environment to the impacts of climate change. It is designed to help government agencies and the building and construction industry to understand the key impacts that climate change will have on the built environment, and begin planning and implementing integrated adaptation strategies to future-proof New Zealand's built assets and protect the communities of which they are a part.

Easy Guide To Being a Climate-friendly Kiwi: At home and at the office

June 2004 Published by BRANZ Ltd, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology from the Research for Industry Fund.

The 'Easy Guide to Being a Climate-Friendly Kiwi' provides easy-to-use, practical information on how to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions on a day-to-day basis, and includes a New Zealand-specific Climate Change calculator to work out your carbon footprint.

Flood Resilient Homes

June 2004

A factsheet which outlines steps home-owners living in flood risk areas can take to minimise damage if flooding occurs. Authors: UK Building Research Establishment and the Association of British Insurers.

Flood Risk Management

March 2004

Guidelines for reducing flood losses from the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Climate Change Hazards

March 2003

A fact sheet from the Greater Wellington regional council on climate change hazards.

Meteorological Hazards

March 2003

A fact sheet from the Greater Wellington regional council on meteorological hazards.

All About Air: Climate Change

A web-based fact sheet from Environment Waikato about greenhouse gases and how climate change may affect us.

Weather Hazards: Climate Change

A web-based fact sheet from Environment Waikato on how climate change could affect storms, rain, coastal flooding and erosion.

Innovative initiatives

Kapiti Coast District Council - Climate change work programme

November 2005 Web-based information assessing the primary impacts of climate change for the Kapiti Coast District, outlining the climate change work programme undertaken by the Council, and linking to information on energy efficiency, low emissions vehicles and recycling in the district.

Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern New Zealand

July 2005

A brochure outlining the impacts and opportunities for agriculture arising from climate change in Eastern New Zealand, and adaptation options at farm level and for rural communities.

Wellington City Council's Journey to Work - Staff Survey

March 2005

An example of good practice in surveying council staff 'journeys to work' in order to help reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from staff transport to and from work. The survey assists council identify the extent of car-pooling and other transport efficiency opportunities, with the aim of helping council staff become more travel efficient.

The view from the ground: A farmer perspective on climate change and adaptation

July 2003

A farmer perspective on climate change and adaptation. Compiled by Gavin Kenny and Mark Fisher. Published by Earthwise Consulting Limited and the Hawke's Bay Climate Change Adaptation Group.

Climate Change and Global Warming Quiz

A quiz from Environment Waikato to test your knowledge about the effect of climate change and global warming on the earth's atmosphere and weather patterns.

Backyard buffers (PDF 690 KB)

A Coast Care information brochure from Environment Bay of Plenty.

Case Studies/Research

Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern New Zealand: A Farmer Perspective

September 2005

This report has been compiled to record workshop learnings from a project designed to engage with farmers and draw forward individual stories and collective thinking in relation to climate change. The project was funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, with additional financial support from Environment Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, the Ministry for the Environment, AGMARDT, Merino NZ Inc.

Chatham Islands Climate Change

June 2005

"Chatham Islands Climate Change" is a report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) which provides information on climate change impacts in the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. It is designed to complement similar guidance produced by the Ministry for the Environment for other New Zealand regions. Authors: Brett Mullan, Jim Salinger, Craig Thompson, Doug Ramsay and Michelle Wild, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA).

Climate Change: Risk and Vulnerability. Promoting an efficient adaptation response in Australia (PDF 1.8 MB)

March 2005

"Climate Change: Risk and Vulnerability" is a report to the Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of the Environment and Heritage, by The Allen Consulting Group. The document provides a valuable insight into how early planning could help federal, state and local government, industries and communities plan for the effects of climate change, adapt to the impacts and exploit any opportunities. The report focuses on options for adaptation planning in key sectors and regions, and identifies some priority vulnerable systems and regions for further attention (eco-systems and biodiversity, agriculture, water supply, settlements and emergency services and energy supply planning). It advocates for coordinated cross-sectoral reviews of vulnerable regions and centres, which will achieve better awareness of possible response options to a changing climate. The report concludes that an adaptation strategy, to be effective, must result in climate risk being considered as a normal part of decision-making, allowing governments, businesses and individuals to reflect their risk preferences just as they would for other risk assessments.

A Changing Climate for Insurance (PDF 254 KB)

August 2004

"A Changing Climate for Insurance" is a summary report designed for Chief Executives and policy makers within the insurance industry, central government and councils in the United Kingdom. Written for the Association of British Insurers, the report focuses on the relevance of climate change to the insurance industry, how the industry is responding to projected increases in extreme weather events in a changing climate, and the importance of engaging asset managers and other senior managers in understanding and reducing the risks rising from climate change in order to better protect communities and improve the resilience of business and industry. While the report is written for a UK audience, its learnings have high relevance to the New Zealand context.

Impacts of Climate Change in New Zealand and the Required Response (PDF 167 KB)

December 2003 Authors J. D. N. Gluckman and C. A. Boyle. Published by the IPENZ as part of its engineering treNz 2003 series.

This paper suggests that engineers have a significant role to play in responding to the impacts of climate change in New Zealand, and proposes that engineers should take a proactive approach to planning and managing the expected impacts of climate change, while still continuing to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions. The paper illustrates that engineers are likely to be involved in the completion of regional climate change hazard assessments, which are an important element of planning for a changing climate. The paper also proposed that the effective management of climate change effects will require an integrated and precautionary approach.

Carbon constraints in the building and construction industry: challenges and opportunities

December 2003

Published by the BRANZ Ltd), funded by the Building Research Levy.

This report examines the challenges faced by New Zealand's building and construction industry in both creating low-carbon buildings and in adapting to the effects of climate change on buildings. It discusses how climate change measures relate to the built environment, and how sustainability aspects may be factored into building regulations. Opportunities for low-carbon construction are also described in the report, with a focus on technical practicalities involved in constructing low-carbon buildings, health and air quality co-benefits, and relevant case studies.

Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on the Built Environment (PDF 175 KB)

2003

A study report published by the BRANZ Ltd with funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Development Setback Recommendations: Coromandel Beaches

May 2002

Environment Waikato has summarised scientific evidence on beach erosion on the Coromandel, and recommended development setbacks so that district councils have more information to plan future coastal development.

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Last updated: 20 March 2008