New Zealand’s climate challenge
Identifying the most significant climate change risks to the diverse community that is New Zealand
Meeting the urgency of the first National Climate Change Risk Assessment
It is unequivocal that greenhouse gas emissions are warming the global climate system, and climate change is already affecting New Zealand. Over the past century, temperatures have increased, glaciers have melted, and sea levels have risen. Such changes will continue, and their impacts will increase in severity, creating far-reaching consequences for people, the natural and built environment, the economy and governance.
AECOM led a multi-disciplinary team of academics and consultants who authored New Zealand's first National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA), identifying the most significant climate change risks, and identifying opportunities and knowledge gaps to be addressed. The nine-month delivery timeframe was achieved by cutting across assessment areas efficiently and diving deep into issues in domain, accessing past regional and national expertise. Engagements involved experts/specialists who networked with stakeholders to deliver efficiently.
Building consensus across more than 400 contributors
Our approach engaged across five value domains, and included national, regional, local agencies, Māori groups and iwi (Māori communities). The project included workshops, hui (Māori social groups), online surveys and focused individual meetings, with over 400 individuals engaged, contributing time, knowledge and expertise. The NCCRA combined stakeholder engagement with technical rigor for consensus building. Under the guidance of the Kaumātua and Māori Engagement Advisors, the team focused their limited time/resources on engaging Māori leaders involved in climate change-related matters/decision-making.
Understanding risks to plan for action
The NCCRA provides a national overview of effects by hazards and threats caused, exacerbated or influenced by climate change and risks/opportunities and gaps in evidence for further consideration. It supports decision-makers to better understand the range of climate change risks, with associated urgency. Lastly it provides best available evidence, information and assessment of risks to directly inform development of a National Adaptation Plan.