Photo: NIWA / Dave AllenThe country's first national climate change risk assessment has identified 10 significant areas that need to be urgently addressed by the government in the next six years. The National Climate Change Risk Assessment identified 43 risks that could have a major or extreme consequence to New Zealand. Also, risks to social cohesion and community well-being from displacement of individuals, families and communities, and risks off exacerbating and creating inequities due to unequal impacts of climate change, the report found. The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 requires a risk assessment at least every six years. Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, says today's report shows "the progress this government has made to solve the climate crisis is essential to creating cleaner and safer communities across New Zealand'."

Source: Otago Daily Times August 03, 2020 01:07 UTC