Most communities
Most communities across Aotearoa New Zealand will experience more frequent and severe meteorological events.
See IAG’s April 2026 Wild Weather Tracker – report and accompanying media release
Adaptation approaches include:
- engaging community members in planning and implementing adaptation strategies to ensure they are effective and culturally appropriate.
Coastal community approaches
Coastal communities are at risk of, or are already facing, multiple climate-related changes including rising sea levels, increased ocean temperatures, and coastal erosion. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative planning between communities, local institutions, and governments. Here are some of the approaches people are using.
Adaptive planning
- Collaborative development of long-term strategies that integrate climate projections and risk assessments to guide community actions.
Hard protection
- Sea walls: constructing barriers to protect against sea-level rise and storm surges.
- Artificial reefs: installing structures to reduce wave energy and protect shorelines.
Soft Protection
- Beach nourishment: adding sand to eroded beaches to restore their natural state.
- Dune management: enhancing natural dunes to act as barriers against storm surges and erosion.
Accommodation to reduce vulnerability
- Floating houses: designing homes that can float during floods.
- Flood hazard mapping: identifying areas at risk of flooding, and planning accordingly.
- Adapting urban drainage systems: modifying drainage infrastructure to handle increased rainfall and prevent flooding.
Ecosystem protection
- Wetland restoration: reinstating or enhancing wetlands to act as natural buffers against flooding and erosion.
- Reforestation ( /afforestation): planting trees and restoring natural vegetation to stabilise soil and reduce runoff.
Managed retreat
- Rethinking coastal living: developing new living strategies that consider long-term climate impacts.
- Relocating neighbourhoods / cities: moving vulnerable communities to safer areas.
Read more
Berman, M., Baztan, J., Kofinas, G. et al. Adaptation to climate change in coastal communities: findings from seven sites on four continents. Climatic Change 159, 1–16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02571-x
Download the paper “Adaptation to climate change in coastal communities” (PDF 470 KB)
Communities vulnerable to fire – approaches
In Aotearoa New Zealand, most communities vulnerable to fire are near non-native conifer stands. The issues include public access to these lands and unintentionally littering or behaving in other ways which are conducive to starting wildfires, and the closeness of buildings to the trees.
Approaches to the issue include:
- pre-emptive planning
- re-evaluation of public access
- removal of problematic trees.
Business adaptation approaches
- Supporting businesses in assessing their climate risks and integrating sustainable practices to build resilience.
Brighton Observatory of Environment & Economics Trust 