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New Zealand’s Government has come out with a survival blueprint in the wake of climate issues, rising sea levels, storms, floods, and wildfires. Heck, only an alien invasion remains to feature on that list.
What the plan entails
1️⃣ No development in hazardous zones.
2️⃣ Enhanced disaster response.
3️⃣ Safeguarding cultural heritage and financial markets.
4️⃣ Fisheries, farming, and tourism reforms.
Why the Government is worried
🌊 New Zealand is witnessing rising sea levels, posing a threat to its coastal housing stock and cities. FYI, flooding has severely affected numerous coastal belts of NZ repeatedly over the last few years.
🌊 675,000 (that's 1 out of 7) citizens currently reside in flooding-prone zones, accounting for properties worth near-$100 billion. While another 72,065 peeps live in zones with projected sea level increases.
🌊 New Zealand had to shell out $840 million in economic impact and insurance damages in the 2007-17 period owing to disasters resulting from climate change.
Challenges
📌 Insuring homes to face rising risks.
📌 Communities lashing out against authorities trying to shift them from unsafe zones.
Way Forward
📎 Building code updates to account for climate issues.
📎 Public housing stock to be built away from such hazards.
📎 Incentives for development away from high-risk zones, and
📎 Compulsory information disclosure to potential builders/buyers about climate risks.
📎 Mass migration to the safety of the Shivaliks.