AUCKLAND (Tarandeep Bilaspur):After deep research, the New Zealand government has made public its first report on “climate change risk assessment”.The report hasn't raised several questions only but also expressed apprehension that if we didn't start acting on this front in next six years, by institutionalising some decisions, we might have to face serious consequences.
According to report, sea level in New Zealand will rise by 67 centimetres by 2090, while temperature will also rise by three degree Celsius by this time.
Extreme weather events such as storms, heatwaves and heavy rainfall are likely to be more frequent and intense. There will be rainfall imbalance, which will lead to land erosion. There will be decrease in snowfall and change in weather during winters.
All these weather - changes will affect agriculture and dairy sectors heavily. Overall climatic changes will impact the economy very badly.
The report says that government will have to allocate separate budget for climate now, which needs to be worked out in next two years. As per report, there are as many as 43 risk factors which should be addressed stepwise.
The main issues which have been pointed out in the report and need to be addressed are:
Planning to stop land erosion in coastal areas and to save coastal ecosystem. To check the climate change impacts on mental and physical health of people. Need to work on new research, and developing new techniques in agriculture and dairy sectors. Develop new types of buildings to handle the extreme weather events due to climate change. Bring the carbon emission levels to zero and to look for alternate sources of energy. Make the tree plantation a community drive. Make the businesses environment friendly.
"This is not the time to merely do the paper work but to make collective efforts by the government, people and businesses," says the report.