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Introduction

Preparing for Climate Change is a guide to help councils across New Zealand assess the likely effects of projected climate change during the 21st century and plan appropriate responses where necessary. It is designed to summarise the main elements of a comprehensive technical report Climate Change Effects and Impacts Assessment ('the source report') which is available in full at: http://www.climatechange.govt.nz/publications/climate/guidance.html.

Some climate changes are occurring now. Future changes are inevitable. While greenhouse gas emission reductions both globally and locally can help slow the rate of climate change, it cannot be prevented entirely. Changes in a number of key climate parameters, such as temperature, rainfall and sea levels, will occur to differing extents in different parts of New Zealand throughout the 21st century and possibly beyond.

If adequately planned for, some of the effects of climate change will be positive. For example, increased temperatures may allow new types of crops to be grown. However, these benefits may be eroded or reversed if climate changes also bring negative effects such as prolonged drought, increased flood risk, or greater frequency and intensity of storms. In any case, informed and proactive planning now can help maximise benefits and minimise the direct and indirect costs of climate change.

Local government is responsible for a range of functions that may be affected by climate including natural hazards and resource management, land-use planning, building control, and the provision of infrastructure such as stormwater drainage and water supply.

Climate-related risks are not new to local government planners, resource managers and emergency and hazard managers. Generally speaking, climate change is not expected to create new risks, but it may change the frequency and intensity of existing risks and hazards, as well as introduce long-term shifts in climate patterns.

Local authorities have both social and legal obligations to take climate change effects into account in their decision-making. This guide explains these obligations, including those under the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act, which came into effect on 2 March 2004.

A key message in the guide is that climate change effects can be broken down into manageable parts and dealt with as part of existing council planning and operational processes. Managing climate change effects does not necessarily require new and additional resources. The guide suggests how councils can carry out simple checks to assess whether climate change effects are likely to be significant for a plan, project or activity. If so, more detailed assessments are recommended. Guidance is provided as to how councils might undertake these.

Although the guide will help councils identify, scope and respond to climate change in their areas, it does not provide standard solutions for specific situations. Each region, district and community will have its own climate-related vulnerabilities and priorities.

The guide does, however, provide some specific tools to help councils identify and respond to climate change impacts including a decision-making framework, case studies and practical checklists.

The guide comprises three distinct parts:

Part One explains the general effects of projected global warming on New Zealand, current climate variability, projected future climate changes both nationally and regionally, and how climate change may change the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods and storms.

Part Two explains councils' social and legal obligations to take climate change effects into account in their community planning, the key principles that need to be considered in responding to climate change, and how to assess the impact of climate change on council functions. Checklists are provided to help ensure that climate change is considered in various plans.

Part Three outlines how councils can integrate climate change into council decision-making, and qualitatively and, if necessary, quantitatively, assess if/how climate change will affect specific council functions and services.