How will your party mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and changing weather patterns in the New Zealand context?

National

Our policy has yet to be released but will be closer to the election.

Labour

Even with meaningful climate mitigation action, there are still unavoidable consequences of climate change that New Zealand needs to adapt to, such as flooding and impacts on agriculture. Labour believes that good information and careful planning can lessen these impacts.

That’s why we passed the Zero Carbon Act, to provide a framework by which New Zealand can develop and implement clear and stable climate policies that allow New Zealand to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects of a changing climate. And, using information from the recently released National Climate Change Risk Assessment, we’re developing a national adaptation plan.

We’ll also continue to take a green approach to planning our future by strengthening the resource management system to deliver better outcomes for natural and urban environments.

Greens

With the Green Party in Government, Aotearoa now has its first ever National Climate Change Risk Assessment, Heat Health Plan, and official government report into Climate Change and Environmental Health. We have begun work on regulatory and funding settings to support adaptation.

With the National Climate Change Risk Assessment now delivered, Government will respond with a National Adaptation Plan. This will set out what needs to be done, who needs to do it, and how it will be financed. The Plan will be a first for New Zealand and will give Government, households, councils, business and iwi the knowledge and tools they need to protect communities for the effects of a warming world.