WELLINGTON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's adaptation efforts are not keeping pace with escalating climate risks, leaving communities exposed to increasing harm and costs, a climate report said on Tuesday.
The 2026 assessment of the Climate Change Commission, the country's independent climate advisory body, found the adaptation response remained "patchy" and, in some cases, was "slipping further behind" as climate risks intensified.
"New Zealand is, too often, paying to react and recover after damage occurs, rather than preparing ahead of time," the commission said, warning this was becoming "increasingly unsustainable."
Recent estimates by insurance company IAG put the direct annual costs to central government and insurers from natural hazards, including climate change, at about 4 billion NZ dollars (about 2.36 billion U.S. dollars), with a significant impact on economic growth.
The commission recommended urgent action in six areas: establishing funding and financing pathways for local adaptation, requiring local adaptation planning, aligning legislation, maintaining national climate risk information, supporting Maori-led adaptation, and strengthening the next national adaptation plan due in 2028.
Nathanael Melia, an adjunct senior research fellow at Victoria University of Wellington, said rising sea levels meant New Zealand faced "difficult and unpopular decisions" on adaptation, insurance availability and retreat.
"Because so many New Zealanders live and work near the coast," damage to coastal homes and infrastructure would become increasingly likely, Melia said. ■