The Role of Local Government in Adapting to Climate Change: Lessons from New Zealand

Andy Reisinger*, David Wratt, Sylvia Allan, Howard Larsen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Local government plays an important role in facilitating adaptation to climate change at the community and regional level. Experiences and lessons from New Zealand suggest that the following elements together contribute to an enabling environment for local government: (1) raising community awareness of climate change; (2) engaging and developing the local expertise of professionals and decision-makers by presenting climate change science, scenarios and their uncertainties in locally relevant contexts and through interactive workshops; (3) adoption of a sequential approach to assess risks and identify vulnerabilities in the context of other socioeconomic and location-specific pressures; and (4) support from central government through regulation and guidance material. We outline the measures undertaken in each of those areas and discuss remaining barriers and uncertainties.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Global Change Research
PublisherSpringer International Publishing Switzerland
Pages303-319
Number of pages17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAdvances in Global Change Research
Volume42
ISSN (Print)1574-0919
ISSN (Electronic)2215-1621

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