2 days ago
Nelson suburb to take part in climate adaption planning
Wet weather in Nelson.
Photo:
RNZ / Samantha Gee
Nelson City Council has chosen part of a central city suburb to be the first area to take part in detailed climate adaptation planning.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the low-lying area of The Wood is vulnerable to flooding during storms that coincide with high tides and storm surge.
He said the climate adaptation approach was sensible given the inevitability of climate disruption and ongoing changes in weather patterns.
The council will work with the community to assess climate risks-such as
sea-level rise
, flooding, and coastal erosion.
It aims to develop long-term, flexible strategies to manage and reduce these risks, ensuring the city's resilience to unavoidable climate impacts over time.
"This work on adaptation is about engaging with the community on how we manage these risks into the future. It is difficult work as there is significant uncertainty about future global emissions that will impact on the scale of the effects. "
He said the work would complement the council's existing work to mitigate and reduce Nelson's greenhouse gas emissions.
The council looked at several areas across Nelson before choosing The Wood to begin detailed adaptation planning.
Staff considered how exposed each area was to climate-related risks, how vulnerable the people, environment, and local economy were, and where there was the best opportunity to work closely with the community, learn together, and share lessons that could benefit other areas too.
Group manager of strategy and communications Nicky McDonald said it provided an opportunity to build a foundation for wider adaptation across Nelson.
"The Wood is significantly exposed to climate-related risks, including flooding, and is home to important cultural and historical sites. The community has already shown willingness to engage, and the scale and characteristics of the area make it a practical and meaningful place to begin this work."
Adaptation planning will be guided by the Protect, Avoid, Retreat and Accommodate (PARA) framework - to consider the full range of climate responses available.
Council staff will now develop a comprehensive list of potential adaptation options, deepen the local climate risk assessment, undertake demographic and cost-benefit analyses, and work in partnership with the community to identify preferred adaptation pathways.
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