A Sea Change is Needed For Adapting to Sea-Level Rise in Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26686/pq.v20i4.9636

Keywords:

sea-level rise, impacts, risks, just and effective adaptation, te ao Māori, indigenous knowledge, community values, actionable knowledge, uncertainty, decision making, governance, adaptive pathways, climate-resilient pathways

Abstract

Sea-level rise is accelerating globally and will continue for centuries under all shared socioeconomic pathways. Although sea-level rise is a global issue, its impacts manifest heterogeneously at the local scale, with some coastal communities and infrastructure considerably more vulnerable than others. Aotearoa New Zealand is poorly prepared to deal with sea-level rise impacts, and some places are already approaching the limits of adaptation, short of relocation. Maladaptive choices threaten Aotearoa’s ongoing ability to adapt going forward. Development of climate-resilient pathways requires an immediate adoption of non-partisan, long-term, systemscale approaches to governance and decision making (from local to national), that integrate effective adaptation and emissions mitigation. This also requires proactive and collective action underpinned by indigenous and actionable knowledge (e.g., NZ SeaRise projections) designed for our unique circumstances. There is still time to put in place sustainable, equitable and effective solutions, but funding and governance models need urgent attention.

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Author Biographies

Tim Naish, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Tim Naish NZAM, FRSNZ is Professor in Earth Sciences at the Antarctic Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He is co-leader of the MBIE Endeavour research programmes Te Ao Hurihuri: Te Ao Hou – Our Changing Coast and Te Tai Pari o Aotearoa – NZ SeaRise, has been an IPCC lead author and is on the joint scientific committee of the World Climate Research Programme.

Judy Lawrence, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Judy Lawrence is an adjunct professor at the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute and at the Antarctic Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. She is co-author of the Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance, coordinating lead author and lead author for the IPCC sixth assessment report, co-convenor of the ministerial Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group, and is a New Zealand climate change commissioner.

Richard Levy, Antarctic Research Centre

Richard Levy is chief science advisor at GNS Science and Professor in Geoscience at the Antarctic Research Centre. He is co-leader of the MBIE Endeavour research programmes Te Ao Hurihuri: Te Ao Hou – Our Changing Coast and Te Tai Pari o Aotearoa – NZ SeaRise.

Rob Bell, University of Waikato Te Whare Wananga o Waikato

Rob Bell is a coastal engineer/planner managing his consultancy Bell Adapt Ltd and is a teaching fellow in the environmental planning programme, School of Social Sciences, University of Waikato Te Whare Wananga o Waikato. He is an IPCC author and lead author of the 2024 Ministry for the Environment Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance.

Vincent (Billy) van Uitregt, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Vincent (Billy) van Uitregt (Ngā Rauru, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Tūhoe) is a senior lecturer in environmental studies in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Billy works with his and other hapū and iwi and with indigenous communities around the world to support their leadership in environmental and conservation initiatives.

Bronwyn Hayward, University of Canterbury

Bronwyn Hayward, MNZM, FRSNZ is a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Canterbury and was a lead author and coordinating lead author for several chapters of the IPCC assessment round 6.

Rebecca Priestley, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rebecca Priestley, CRSNZ is a Professor of Science in Society at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. She researches history of science and science communication, and writes creative nonfiction, with a focus on climate change and sea level rise in Aotearoa and Antarctica. She is an investigator with the Te Ao Hurihuri: Te Ao Hou, Our Changing Coast research programme.

James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

James Renwick, CRSNZ is a professor and climate researcher in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He was a lead author on the IPCC 4th and 5th assessment reports and a coordinating lead author on the 6th assessment report. He is currently a New Zealand climate change commissioner.

Jonathan Boston, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Jonathan Boston, ONZM is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at the Wellington School of Business and Government, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He has published widely on a range of matters, including public management, social policy, climate change policy, tertiary education policy and comparative government.

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Published

2024-11-25

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 4 (2024): Policy Quarterly

Section

Articles

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