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New Climate Change Guidance Manual Released
27 May 2008
Media Statement
New Climate
Change Guidance Manual Released
Release of guidance
manual paves way for better planning around climate
change
A guidance manual released today by the Ministry
for the Environment provides the latest projections of the
expected impacts of climate change on New Zealand, and
advice for councils nationwide on tackling their
effects.
The manual entitled Climate Change Effects and
Impacts Assessment: A guidance manual for local government
in New Zealand was released today.
The guidance
manual, which replaces and updates the 2004 version, is
designed to help local government and other decision makers
identify and quantify opportunities and risks that climate
change presents.
Sue Powell, general manager of the
Ministry for the Environment’s Local Government Group,
says the manual provides useful information to plan for the
future.
“I am proud to present our updated local
government guidance manual. It provides us with the latest
climate change information and methods for assessing
risk.”
“It gives more detail and greater
certainty than previously and provides councils and
communities the opportunity to act now to minimise the
impacts and maximise the opportunities associated with
climate change.”
Ms Powell says councils and
communities need to consider potential future impacts of
climate change on their functions and services.
”Of
particular importance are infrastructure and developments
that will need to
cope with climate conditions not just
now, but in 50 to 100 years time. Examples include
storm-water drainage systems, irrigation schemes, and
development of low-lying land already subject to flood
risk,” she says.
Ms Powell believes that taking
account of climate change now is likely to be cheaper in the
long-run.
The manual released by the Ministry for the
Environment was based on scientific information provided by
the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) and the 4th assessment report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC).
Climate Change Effects and Impacts
Assessment: A guidance manual for local government in New
Zealand is available on:
www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/climate-change-effect-impacts-assessments-may08/
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