Recent flooding in New Zealand’s capital Wellington – Image: Bibi Hawkes/Wellington Alive
Acting now on the biggest climate risks can reduce New Zealand’s rising recovery costs, says the government’s Climate Change Commission (CCC) in it’s latest report.
After decades of poor decisions for nature have compounded risks, New Zealand should respond to climate change by working with nature rather than against it, was the response of New Zealand’s leading independent conservation organization, Forest & Bird, to the new report.
Key takeaways from CCC’s latest risks assessment report
- The national climate change risk assessment (NCCRA) sets out the priorities for decision-makers, businesses and communities to act on.
- It shows where planning and investment can make the biggest difference by addressing the most pressing risks.
- Aotearoa New Zealand faces serious risks that impact daily life, putting pressure on water systems, homes, roads, emergency services, ecosystems, and even the way decisions are made.
- Acting sooner rather than later to address key risks will minimise the multi-billion-dollar cost of delaying climate resilience measures.
- Reducing global emissions is also needed to slow climate change, making future climate impacts easier to manage.
Focus is on the biggest risks
The 2026 national climate change risk assessment, released today, identifies the priority risk areas where action will make the biggest difference, the Climate Change Commission says.
The four key areas cover all facets of daily life: key infrastructure, communities and safety, nature and the bioeconomy, and decisions and funding.
“People across Aotearoa New Zealand are already facing more disruption from storms, rain, landslides, drought and sea-level rise,” says Climate Change Commission Chief Executive, Jo Hendy.
“Fifteen years ago, damaging storm events happened about once a month – now it’s more like once a week.
“In the first few months of this year alone, we’ve seen just how devastating these hazards can be for people’s lives.
“By focusing on where risk is highest, impact is greatest, and making sure we get the basics right, a co-ordinated plan can be created that strengthens the country’s resilience.
“With more extreme weather and global pressures like the energy crisis, building resilience has never been more important.
“It’s also important to keep contributing to the global effort to reduce emissions so climate change doesn’t get significantly worse.”
Acting now reduces long-term costs
The Commission’s analysis suggests acting now will reduce costs across the economy.
“Focusing effort and investment on a few key things will have much wider benefits and help bring the overall cost down,” Hendy says.
“More than half a million buildings are already exposed to inland flooding, with at least $235 billion at risk.
“If we build homes that can cope with floods and extreme weather, we’re not just protecting the building, we’re protecting people’s health, keeping essential services running, and helping keep those homes insurable
“If we don’t act, costs could run into the billions and affect every part of people’s lives.”
Getting the national policy settings right
“Communities are already doing the hard work locally – now we need to make sure the national settings are right to back that up.
“A lot of effort goes into recovery, which matters – but it can’t come at the expense of making things more resilience.
“We currently have an imbalance where 97% of government spend is on responding to natural hazards and only 3% on building resilience.
“By getting it right at the national level, and turning our focus to building climate resilience, we can break the cycle of react and recover,” Hendy says.
The Minister of Climate Change must respond, within two years from publication of the risks assessment, with a new national adaptation plan, which addresses the most significant risks. The Commission’s role is to advise on implementation of the adaptation plan, and measure effectiveness.
Forest & Bird: Politicians must take urgent, bold, and achievable action
New Zealand should respond to climate change by working with nature rather than against it, says NZ’s leading conservation organization Forest & Bird, after decades of poor decisions for nature have compounded risks. Today’s National Climate Change Risk Assessment from the Climate Change Commission shows climate change is hitting Aotearoa harder, faster, and in more places at once.
“The Risk Assessment has shown that if we want to protect our native species and unique natural spaces, politicians must take urgent, bold, and achievable action on climate-changing emissions,” says Scott Burnett, climate spokesperson for Forest & Bird.
“Climate change from burning fossil fuels and methane from livestock are adding to frequent and severe floods, storms, and droughts. These risks are compounding because decades of poor land use, wetland destruction, and weak environmental protections have stripped away the natural defences that would have softened the blow,” says Burnett.
A warming world is like a pressure cooker on our native species: worsening freshwater quality, eroding our dunes, and putting our forests at risk. Politicians at all levels of government can take action, now, to reduce the pressure and protect habitats.
“Continued use of fossil fuels is directly at odds with thriving wildlife and safe communities. We can choose a different path.”
Some of the most significant climate-related risks from the Assessment include water infrastructure, ecosystems and biodiversity, forestry, and social and community wellbeing.
“These are all things nature-based solutions can contribute to improving,” says Burnett.
“We want politicians and leaders to move away from fossil fuels and invest in nature to protect the species, people, and places we treasure.
Forest & Bird believes the choice in front of communities and government is clear: enjoy the benefits of cutting pollution and restoring nature, or suffer from high fuel prices and stronger storms.
NAN 07-05-26
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