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New Zealand's changing climate
Climate change could have significant impacts on our economy, environment and the way we live – the effects of a warming planet and subsequent changing climate patterns are already becoming evident.
The impacts of climate change are likely to have different effects in different parts of New Zealand.
Climate scientists expect the Earth’s average temperature will increase by between 1.1 and 6.4°C this century. In New Zealand, average temperatures are projected to increase about 1°C by around 2040 and about 2.1°C by around 2090.
Under moderate projections, it is likely that sea levels will rise 18 to 59cm by 2100. Faster than expected ice-sheet melting could lead to even higher sea levels. Even a moderate sea level rise would lead to increased coastal erosion, flooding from storms, salinisation of freshwater, and drainage problems.
We can expect increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like severe storms, floods and droughts.
More rain is likely to fall in the west of the country and less in the east. We can also expect more episodes of heavy rainfall and for westerly winds to become more prevalent with a greater risk of severe winds and storms.
There are likely to be decreases in the number of frost days in the lower North Island and the South Island, and a substantial increase in the number of hot days where temperatures exceed 25°C, especially in the north of the North Island.
