Table: Appendix 5 Climate Change in Plans - Checklist for Contents

Describe community outcomes for the district or region.

Provide a long-term focus for local authority decisions.

Provide financial estimates to manage council/ community assets.

• Are the long term implications of climate change identified anywhere in relation to community outcomes? Is any statement clear and able to be measured or monitored? If not, is there a comment as to why not?
• How is the time frame of climate change effects handled? Is there adequate explanation of the need to act within the framework of the current plan, although effects may only be apparent during future plans?
• Are adaptive responses to potential climate changes identified in relation to specific assets or activities (water supply, wastewater, stormwater, roading, pest management, parks and reserves management etc)? Are these specific and targeted to the asset?
• If a change in level of service, or additional capacity is planned due to climate change (i.e. beyond the level of service or capacity based on other considerations), is this explicit and explained?
• Are other programmes or plans relating to climate change identified (e.g. biosecurity, biodiversity) and details and budgets specified?
• Is a monitoring regime relating to the aspect involving a climate change response identified and mechanisms, costs and duration foreshadowed?
• Are the levels of uncertainty involved in the forecasts of climate change explained, and an estimate of the uncertainty provided?

• Are budget requirements in relation to climate change responses identified in the Long Term Council Community Plan explicitly followed through
  • generally in relation to development/maintenance/ management of specific assets?
  • in terms of any investigation or research needs for the year?
  • in terms of ongoing monitoring?

• Are any specific annual plan provisions relating to climate change reported appropriately, including asset management?
• If the expected outcome has not been achieved, has this been explained?

• Is climate change and its effects identified as a regional issue requiring a response?
• Does the policy statement explain the national policy context?
• Does the regional policy statement specify the time horizon for different types of decisions on climate change and its effects?
• Does the regional policy statement give pointers for the formulation of regional and district plan contents relating to managing the effects of climate changes?
• Are the respective roles and responsibilities of the regional and district councils in managing natural hazards in the region set out?
• Does the regional policy statement promote consistency of approach towards climate change by local authorities within the region and across boundaries with neighbouring regions?
• Does the regional policy statement promote public education as a method of response to climate change and its effects?
• Does the regional policy statement promote avoidance or limitation of damage and costs from natural hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change, such as:
  • sea level rise
  • increased rainfall intensity
  • increased incidence of severity or drought
  • wind events?
• Does the regional policy statement include any provisions for monitoring effects of climate change, and any relevant statements of environmental outcomes?

Depending on the plan ...

• Is climate change and its implications identified as an issue? If it is not, is there a valid explanation as to why not?
• Is the approach and policy for climate change consistent with the regional policy statement?
• Are there one or more objectives relating to climate change, which are adequately explained and integrated with policy and rules?
• If there are rules or methods which relate to or rely on climate change as a partial or complete justification for their existence (e.g. water allocation, flood design clearances, prohibiting building areas), is the provision clearly explained?
• Are there any decision-making criteria related to taking the implications of climate change into account? Are these explained?
• Are there any provisions for monitoring relevant to climate change effects, and any relevant statements of environmental outcomes as a result of the provision?
• Is there a specific commitment that the council will keep up-to-date with changing understanding of climate change and its implications?

• Is climate change identified as an issue in the district plan with adequate explanations?
• How is the issue expressed in terms of objectives and policies?
• Is the approach and policy for climate change consistent with the regional policy statement?
• Have areas of enhanced risk (e.g. hazard zones, building lines) due to climate change been identified, with appropriate policy and rules?
• Do the decision-making criteria relating to natural hazards refer to climate change and its implications?

• Has the risk management analysis taken into account changes due to climate change?
• Does the recognition of the effects of climate change reflect the current level of uncertainty in the region and adopt a cautious approach as a result? If not, is this explained?
• Does the plan include a specific commitment to keep up-to-date with changing understanding of climate change and its implications, including any relevant local monitoring or liaison?

Depending on the plan ...

• Are there any statements or provisions relating to climate change and managing the effects?
• If there are, are these appropriately linked to aspects of the plan that have long-term consequences (e.g. a Reserve Management Plan may appropriately incorporate climate change considerations in relation to species choice for major planting programmes, or recognition of increased drought or flooding in design and subsequent maintenance costs of playing fields; Asset Management Plans may include expectations of changed levels of service needed in the future due to climate change; Landcare Plans may identify aspects such as reduced soil moisture in an area and promote a gradual shift in types of production/management as a response).
• What monitoring regimes are incorporated?