Request for information on findings of "Our Atmosphere and Climate 2020"

Details of the request

In October 2020 the Ministry in conjunction with Statistics NZ published a paper titled "Our Atmosphere and Climate 2020".  This paper made a number of claims with regard to the impact of climate change on fire danger and an increase in the risks of wildfire in NZ.  The data used to support your claims was based upon an analysis of Fire Danger Class levels at twenty sites over a 17 year period.

Under the provisions of the Official Information Act I request from you the following information:

• Copies of correspondence (letters, email, etc) received to date by the Ministry supporting the findings of this report with the respect to the increasing risks of wildfire as a consequence of climate change; and
• Copies of correspondence (letters, emails, etc) received to date by the Ministry challenging or disputing the findings of this report with respect to the increasing risk of wildfire as a consequence of climate change and/or the methodology and data used to arrive at this finding, and if any, what action has the Ministry taken to address any concerns raised.