Our atmosphere and climate 2023

This is adversely impacting the environment, communities, Māori interests, infrastructure and the economy. It is impacting the presence and timing of ngā tohu o te taiao (environmental indicators) which requires our knowledge to adapt more rapidly. It also has consequences for biodiversity and ecosystems, which have the potential to help protect communities against the worst effects of climate change. 

Alongside the report, the Ministry has also used the digital storytelling platform ArcGIS StoryMaps to look at the impacts our changing climate is having on the plants and animals that call Aotearoa New Zealand home. 

Four stories, which include, photos, maps, videos, graphics and interactive features, show how climate change is causing: 

• our glaciers to disappear and our snowlines to retreat, impacting biodiversity
• trees in our forests to produce more seeds, increasing the number of pests that predate on birds
• our oceans to warm, rise and become more acidic, which is impacting marine species
• stronger cyclones, hotter heatwaves and more frequent droughts and wildfires that result in losses and damage to nature and people.