Updated guidance on coastal climate change released
The guidance supports planning for climate change in coastal areas.
Many coastal communities across Aotearoa are already experiencing the effects of climate change through sea-level rise, flooding, erosion and rising groundwater.
New Zealand’s seas have risen by 21cm since 1900, and sea-level rise is projected to accelerate.
At the same time, more frequent and severe extreme weather events are impacting our coasts, estuaries and harbours increasing the risk of damage to homes, infrastructure and cultural sites.
This updated guidance draws on the latest science to provide coastal hazards and climate change information for decision makers in coastal areas.
- Advances in sea-level rise science and updated global projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report
- New relative sea-level rise projections and vertical land movement estimates from the NZ SeaRise Programme
- Advances in knowledge relating to the types of coastal hazards (such as sea-level rise, storms, flooding, or rising groundwater) and how they interact with each other
- Updated guidance on carrying out risk assessments and adaptation pathways planning.
The guidance is a technical document designed for practitioners involved in:
- land-use planning
- resource management
- building consenting
- asset and flood risk management
- infrastructure planning.
The guidance does not describe what will or won’t happen with climate change or sea-level rise in any specific area. Instead, it is a tool to help decision makers consider the potential effects of climate change, now and in the future, based on the latest scientific information. This includes a 10-step process to assess the risks and determine what actions to take.
Broader guidance on the adaptation process had been planned for publication later in 2024. However the Government has since announced the development of an adaptation framework for New Zealand, informed by a select committee inquiry. Additional adaptation guidance is not being progressed while this framework is under development, but will be reassessed once the new framework is established.