Climate report- a must read for all New Zealanders
Megan
WOODS
Climate Change Spokesperson
27
November 2014
MEDIA STATEMENT
Climate report- a must read for
all New Zealanders
A strong scientific analysis of rising sea levels in New Zealand by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment makes climate change the number one issue for our city planners, says Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Megan Woods.
“Dr Jan Wright’s report is credible science from a New Zealand perspective. This is going to be the seminal document for town planning in the face of climate change.
“The Commissioner has made it clear that rising sea levels are going to affect all of New Zealand.
“The ideas in this report will change the way banks and insurance companies look at risk across our country. Kiwis will have to face the facts that their ability to negotiate mortgages, house insurance and property valuations are all going to be influenced by rising sea levels.
“We are already seeing the impacts of climate change from South Dunedin to Auckland’s Tamaki Drive to Kapiti. In my own city, Christchurch the flooding in the Flockton Basin and the rising water levels in Brighton and Southshore will be exacerbated by a rise in sea levels.
“At the heart of this report is the globally accepted finding that a 30 centimetre rise in sea level by the year 2050 is now locked in for the future of our planet.
“This report makes it even more urgent that the Minister responsible for climate change listens to his advisors. It was just two weeks ago that agencies representing the natural resources sector warned the Government that it was ‘off track’ in its transition to a low carbon future.
“The Government, banks, insurance companies and local bodies must listen and act urgently on Dr Wright’s findings,” says Megan Woods.