Climate Change Impacts in New Zealand

The three major impacts attributing to climate change are physical systems, biological systems, and human & managed systems. Physical systems include things like glaciers, floods or drought, coastal erosion, and sea level rise. Biological systems include terrestrial ecosystems, wildfires, and marine ecosystems. Finally, human & managed systems include food production, and livelihoods, and economics.  In New Zealand, the major impact attributing to climate change is biological systems. One key risk is the result of more flooding and more intense damage being done to infrastructure and towns in New Zealand. Another key risk is an increase in coastal infrastructures and low sea level communities/ecosystems being damaged because of sea level rising. 

Flood in Whakatana, New Zealand 2004

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            With an increased westerly wind across New Zealand, it will lead to more rainfall and colder than usual temperatures in the western region of the country during the El Nino phase. During La Nina, New Zealand tends to expect more rainfall in the north and east, but warmer than usual temperatures. According to Dean Scott, over the last century, temperatures in New Zealand have increased a little less than 1 degree Celsius. It is expected that flooding and drought will double during the 21^st century. Because of the buffering effect from the oceans around New Zealand, temperatures should rise at 70% of the global rate. Most likely, the temperatures should continue to rise in New Zealand, but not at an alarming rate.

            As I’ve said before, temperatures are rising in New Zealand, but the main cause of it is the increase of greenhouse gas concentrations. Weather that leads to fires is expected to increase in many parts of New Zealand because of more frequent hot extremes. With recent extreme floods in New Zealand, it shows how vulnerable these ecosystems and communities are to the climate variability. The country has lost billions of dollars from these events and will lose more if they do not act fast in preparing for the events because the frequency of it is projected to increase! With sea level rise and more heavy rainfall, there will be an increase in erosion. This could have a serious negative impact on low elevation ecosystems damaging homes and other infrastructure. Native species will have to move and relocate themselves, but if some are not able to do so, it can lead extinction of a species. Planning for these extreme events are being adopted, but it’s not implemented as much as it needs to be. With climate change, some believe that it can provide more jobs relating to forestry. This is good because it can help with the economy and the people are working to protect the natural environment. The severity of these risks all depend if it’s large scale like temperature change that affects the entire country and not just coastal areas.

Climate Change Impacts Map

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            The most interesting issue to me in New Zealand is what’s happening to the natural ecosystems. I chose this issue because the native species are being affected, which relates to here in Hawaiʻi where a lot of native species are already extinct. In New Zealand, very few impacts to ecosystems have been directed to the cause of climate change. For example, the alpine trees in New Zealand have rarely changed course even though the temperature rose 1 degree Celsius over the past century. One of the projected impacts is that the alpine trees will be at risk from the increase growth of shrubs and more invasive species. For freshwater impacts, the cold-water fish are vulnerable to the water becoming warmer in the future and not being able to adapt. Also, with the expectancy of more flooding, the native river birds there are put in danger and have to relocate themselves. However, not all of the species are able to adapt like the native river birds that may be able to fly elsewhere and live. These freshwater fish can’t change the fact that the water is warming and move elsewhere because it affects the entire ecosystem. According to Dr. McGlone, New Zealand does not focus too much on climate change related things, but mainly focuses on pollution in freshwater ecosystems, threats from invasive species, and lessening the decline of native vegetation.