Framework to guide how New Zealand adapts
The Government is developing an approach to preparing for natural events like storms and floods, and fairly sharing the costs.
Work is underway to develop an adaptation framework to strengthen the way Aotearoa New Zealand prepares for climate change.
Natural events, such as floods, storms or landslips, are becoming more frequent and severe as our climate changes.
This is already damaging homes, communities, businesses and infrastructure, and a high proportion of New Zealanders live in areas where the risks are increasing.
The framework is intended to deliver a fair and enduring system to help New Zealand be ready for climate change, and provide clarity on costs.
Work to develop the adaptation framework is expected to focus on:
- Making sure people know what investment in infrastructure, such as flood protection measures, will happen in their area.
- Setting out the Government’s approach to sharing the costs of adaptation, and what support will be available for property owners.
- Clarifying roles and responsibilities.
- Improving access to information, so individuals and organisations can make informed decisions about management of risk.
The framework will focus on the areas where people live and work. It will cover both proactive actions to protect things we value, and recovery after a natural event happens.
Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee is conducting an inquiry to develop further recommendations for objectives and principles for the framework.
Submissions made to the Environment Committee’s previous inquiry into climate adaptation will be considered by the new inquiry, and the Finance and Expenditure Committee is likely to also call for new public submissions.
The framework will build on New Zealand’s first national adaptation plan, which set out all the actions the Government is taking to build resilience and its long-term adaptation strategy.