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Adaptation: What can local government do to adapt to the impacts of a changing climate?

Adaptation is about undertaking actions to minimise threats or to maximise opportunities resulting from a changing climate and its effects. Examples are raising river or coastal defences, changing land use and replacing sensitive plants with temperature-shock resistant plants.

It is anticipated that climate change will exacerbate existing climatic hazards. Climate change is one of many risks that should be addressed as part of the planning process. This is best done through integrating climate change into existing processes and policies. It is particularly important to consider the impacts of climate change in long-term planning for infrastructure and developments that will need to cope with climate conditions in 50–100 years.

A key element in adapting to climate change will be identifying flexible options that allow an incremental response over time. It is also important to identify options that help reduce current vulnerability.

“Preparing for Climate Change: A guide for local government in New Zealand” includes further information on how local government functions might be affected by climate change. The publication also includes information on key factors to take into account when assessing where climate change is likely to have a critical impact. It also provides guidance on a risk management approach to take for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into planning and decision-making processes.

Checklist for considering climate change adaptation in long-term council community plans

  • Have the long-term implications of climate change been identified in relation to community outcomes?

  • Have you ensured planning horizons include consideration of long-term impacts of climate change?

  • Have you identified how climate change could affect water supply, wastewater, stormwater, roading, pest management, flood protection systems, drainage schemes, parks and reserves management, etc? Have risk reduction measures been identified?

  • Are other programmes or plans relating to climate change identified (eg, biosecurity and biodiversity)?

  • Have the effects of a changing climate on future land use and rural communities – for instance, agriculture, horticulture and forestry – been considered? Will future land use or land-use change require different or more infrastructure investment in the future?

  • Is a change in level of service, or additional capacity, required owing to climate change (ie, requirements will be beyond the current design level of service or capacity)?

  • Has a monitoring regime been considered to assess how climate change is affecting services and functions?

  • Are the levels of uncertainty involved in the forecasts of climate change explained, and is an estimate of the uncertainty provided?

A more detailed checklist and lists for other plan types are provided in “Preparing for Climate Change: A guide for local government in New Zealand”.

Links to further information

Central government websites:

The following documents provide further information on adapting to climate change:

The following documents refer to older climate change scenarios. However they still provide useful information on the directions of climate change trends and impacts:

 

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