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Adaptation

  Adaptation

Fig. 1: Our current trajectory is SSP5-8.5 Image: IPCC 6th Assessment Report WG1 (2021)
Fig. 1: Our current trajectory is SSP5-8.5 Image: IPCC 6th Assessment Report WG1 (2021)

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Adaptation

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The default setting of the global clock above is the ‘2°C scenario‘. To keep the planet habitable for most (but not all) people, global average temperatures must stay below 1.5°C.  Click on the ‘1.5°C scenario‘ box on the above right. This shows that globally, we must stop emitting all greenhouse gases in less than 6 years, far sooner than the Government’s goal of ‘net zero by 2050’.
 
The lukewarm promises made by governments in 2021 already are being broken. Emissions are increasing, not declining. The world is currently accelerating towards 4°C+ by 2100 and continued warming into the next century (Fig. 1). To compound the problem, irreversible climate tipping points not factored into the IPCC modelling used in Figure 1 already are being passed. Due to feedback effects, instead of absorbing greenhouse gases, large parts of what little remains of natural world are now releasing them into the atmosphere, adding to what we’re emitting. And the pace is accelerating with global fossil fuel subsidies surging to record $7 Trillion in 2022.
 
Cyclone Gabrielle has driven home the point that climate change is not a remote problem. It’s here in Aotearoa, now.
 

“What is effective adaptation? To be effective, adaptation action must enable New Zealand’s communities to reduce the risks from climate change impacts today, and over the medium and long term by:

  • reducing the exposure and vulnerability of our social and cultural systems, natural and built environment (including physical assets), and economy
  • maintaining and improving the capacity of our social, cultural, environmental, physical and economic systems to adapt

“We identified three characteristics that need to be in place for effective adaptation to be implemented in New Zealand:

  1. being informed about how the climate is changing and what this means for New Zealanders
  2. being organised, with a common goal, a planned approach, appropriate tools, and clear roles and responsibilities
  3. taking dynamic action to proactively reduce exposure and vulnerability to the social, cultural, environmental and economic consequences of climate change.”  – MfE Adapting to Climate Change in New Zealand

  Innovation

To mitigate these rapidly compounding impacts, we need to redouble our efforts to stop emissions while simultaneously deploying adaptation strategies to accommodate wilder weather and rising sea levels that are now unavoidable and irreversible on human time scales. And we need to do so quickly.

In many instances, protecting and restoring native ecosystems (nature-based solutions) helps both mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Adaptation also requires developing and implementing tools that help communities cope with inevitable and unavoidable non-economic as well as economic losses, while avoiding bad decisions that result in costly and potentially deadly maladaptation.

A Local Government New Zealand report found that process of engaging with communities at risk to help make the best—albeit unpalatable—choices are hindered by a lack of resources, vague policies, and ill-defined laws. Currently, these outdated laws, which are not due to be replaced by the proposed Managed Retreat and Climate Change Act until late 2023, pit developers against councils faced with potential legal action for declining development. Perversely, these councils will be subject to legal action from affected owners for permitting that development. And they’ll have to fight this litigation using money we paid either via rates or indirectly from rent.

Moreover, any new legislation is planned to take 10 years to come into full effect, subject to any change of government scrapping them.

Links in the menus will be added as practical applications and strategies become available.

More information

To mitigate these rapidly compounding impacts, we need to redouble our efforts to stop emissions while simultaneously deploying adaptation strategies to accommodate wilder weather and rising sea levels that are now unavoidable and irreversible on human time scales. And we need to do so quickly.

In many instances, protecting and restoring native ecosystems (nature-based solutions) helps both mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Adaptation also requires developing and implementing tools that help communities cope with inevitable and unavoidable non-economic as well as economic losses, while avoiding bad decisions that result in costly and potentially deadly maladaptation.

A Local Government New Zealand report found that process of engaging with communities at risk to help make the best—albeit unpalatable—choices are hindered by a lack of resources, vague policies, and ill-defined laws. Currently, these outdated laws, which are not due to be replaced by the proposed Managed Retreat and Climate Change Act until late 2023, pit developers against councils faced with potential legal action for declining development. Perversely, these councils will be subject to legal action from affected owners for permitting that development. And they’ll have to fight this litigation using money we paid either via rates or indirectly from rent.

Moreover, any new legislation is planned to take 10 years to come into full effect, subject to any change of government scrapping them.

Links in the menus will be added as practical applications and strategies become available.

More information

  Innovation