‘Plan needed’ for rising seas

Local governments are calling for more support as rising sea levels could cause significant damage to New Zealand’s coastlines.

A report released last week by the OECD evaluates how countries are preparing for rising sea levels amid concerns there will be a rise of at least 1 metre – potentially in the next 80 years.

The report, Responding to Rising Seas, used New Zealand as one of its case studies, stating that handling rising sea levels will be difficult here, as 65 per cent of the population live within 5 kilometres of the coast.

‘‘Climate change poses an increasing risk to the important coastal areas, in particular because sea-level rise increases exposure to coastal hazards.

‘‘This exposure is exacerbated by ongoing coastal development and rising property values.’’

A sea level rise of 3 metres would affect 280,000 people, with a projected $50 billion in damage, according to the report.

The report found that in most OECD countries, local governments took charge of implementing measures to prepare for the rising sea levels, but relied on a national/governmentled framework which helped communities plan and adapt for climate change. It compared OECD countries’ adaptation plans under four categories: Information provision (risk assessment/guidance); regulatory/economic instruments (protection infrastructure and regulations); dedicated national funding; and monitoring and evaluation.

It found New Zealand only achieved ‘‘information provision’’, referring to a report released in 2017 which gave recommendations on what local governments needed to be doing.

Countries that ticked all four boxes included Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. Other countries had two or three of the criteria.

Local Government NZ said the Government was not providing an adequate framework to follow, resulting in communities being unprepared for the rising sea levels. ‘‘Around the world, it’s recognised that national plans are needed,’’ LGNZ president Dave Cull said.

‘‘What we’ve been given in New Zealand is a guidance document that provides local government with limited direction, and as a result there’s great uncertainty for our coastal communities.’’ Coastal Hazard Joint Committee chair Peter Beaven agreed local governments needed a better national model to follow. ‘‘There hasn’t been any national alignment on responsibilities, resourcing or policy.’’

Climate Change Minister James Shaw said he could understand Beaven’s concerns, and the Government was working on bringing together information from across the country to ‘‘understand the best strategies, and where responsibilities, resourcing and policy need to be’’. While new material had been provided to local governments over the past 18 months, there was still more work to do, he said.

‘‘There’s great uncertainty for our coastal communities.’’ LGNZ president Dave Cull