A Call for Preparedness
Climate Change Minister James Shaw has taken a significant step by urging the Parliament’s Environment Committee to initiate an inquiry into community-led retreat and adaptation funding.
With the escalating threat of severe weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle, Shaw underscores the urgency to establish a resilient framework for the protection of vulnerable communities at high risk.
Long-Term Considerations
Shaw emphasizes that climate change is steering humanity towards more frequent and severe weather events in the future. He highlights the importance of timely decisions in preparing and adapting to these climatic shifts, citing the potential lasting impact they can have.
The concept of community-led retreats, ranging from relocating homes to safeguarding cultural sites and playgrounds from imminent harm, holds promise.
The inquiry, led by the Environment Committee, aims to solicit a diverse range of perspectives to forge an enduring system.
Embracing Adaptation and Change
Delving deeper, the inquiry seeks to unravel the facets of community-led retreat as an integral component of the nation’s adaptation system.
Shaw contends that this proactive approach, including the option for communities to relocate from high-risk areas, necessitates a comprehensive exploration of implementation and financial viability.
An Inclusive Endeavor
In an effort to ensure a thorough examination, Climate Change Minister Shaw advocates for the inquiry’s initiation before the election, allowing broad public input. However, the comprehensive process will conclude during the subsequent Parliamentary term.
He proposes the establishment of a Special Committee that brings together members across the political spectrum, including the Māori Affairs Committee, building upon their Māori climate adaptation inquiry.
Guiding Legislation Development
Shaw’s vision extends to translating the inquiry’s findings into tangible legislative action. The Climate Change Adaptation Bill, slated for development in 2024, will be informed by the inquiry’s outcomes.
While the inquiry’s precise scope will be defined by the Committee, Shaw provides potential terms of reference to guide the investigation.
Multi-Faceted Exploration
Among the potential terms of reference, the Committee is strongly encouraged to meticulously examine the current approach to community-led retreat and adaptation funding, taking into account its strengths, challenges, risks, and costs.
Furthermore, gleaning insights from previous severe weather events in Aotearoa New Zealand will provide a valuable reservoir of knowledge, instrumental in the process of honing the adaptation strategy.
In addition, the inquiry will meticulously explore a range of mechanisms for community-led decision-making. This will encompass comprehensive scrutiny of institutional arrangements, intricately involving government agencies, iwi, and hapū. This framework will be further fortified by a dedicated commitment to Māori engagement, expertly aligned with the guiding principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Integrating Knowledge and Resources
The inquiry aims to foster synergy between existing legislation and the regulatory framework, including the reformed resource management system. It also intends to explore the regulatory powers and potential incentives needed to support adaptation actions.
The inquiry’s scope encompasses funding sources, access to them, and equitable principles for cost-sharing, along with establishing targets for evaluating resilient communities and infrastructure.
Supporting Documents
In anticipation of the inquiry, the Ministry for the Environment has released the ‘Community-led retreat and adaptation funding – issues and options’ paper, offering insight into challenges in the present system and presenting prospective pathways for the future.
Furthermore, an Expert Working Group, chaired by Sir Terence Arnold KC and comprising experts in Te Ao Māori, will publish a technical report later today.
This concerted effort seeks to establish a robust framework that addresses community protection and adaptation in the face of escalating climate threats.
Sources: THX News & The New Zealand Government.
