CLIMATE CHANGE WORKSHOP
On Thursday 12 December the Waikato River Authority hosted a workshop to consider the opportunities to respond to the issue of climate change within its work to restore and protect the Waikato and Waipaa Rivers. Over 70 people attended across River iwi, industry sectors, Crown Research Institutes, local government, community groups and Crown agencies including the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Board of the Authority recognises that climate change is an issue that can positively and negatively impact its efforts in the coming decades. We also understand that greenhouse gas mitigation is a significant co-benefit of our restoration work, e.g. last year projects were completed comprising 342,500 new plantings. Climate change adaptation and resilience opportunities were also considered within the workshop. The programme for the day and the presentations and discussion summary can be found below.
Our work to understand the impacts of climate change will form part of the review of the Vision & Strategy now underway. This work will continue next year as we co-develop the Vision & Strategy review framework as part of the collective workplan between the Authority, River iwi and the Crown. The Authority’s Board agreed to set aside budget last financial year and within this current year to support implementation of the collective workplan.
