Last Wednesday, New Zealand released its first national climate adaptation plan to prepare for the impacts of climate change (AP). In announcing the plan, Climate Minister James Shaw stated, “We have already seen what can unfold. Severe weather events that had previously seemed unthinkable, even only a few years ago, are now happening at a pace and intensity we have never experienced before” (New Zealand Government). 

The six-year plan outlines how to protect infrastructure, housing, cities, and cultural sites from climate impacts. It also seeks to ensure that the public, businesses, local governments, and developers are adequately informed of climate risks so they can account for them in their choices. This will be done by creating maps to assess how climate change will affect various areas within New Zealand, mandating that prospective homebuyers be informed about climate risks, and developing a public portal to communicate place-specific warnings (Guardian). 

While the plan is an important first step, much remains to be determined, such as who ought to pay when a house or community must relocate due to climate change impacts. Roughly 747,065 New Zealand residents live in areas that are either prone to flooding or are subject to extreme sea-level rise, making the retreat from climate hazards a pressing question as the planet continues to warm (Guardian).