Adaptive, resilient communities

Action A: Take a strategic approach to supporting local adaptation planning

This action aims to take a systematic and proactive approach to support the most at-risk communities in understanding, assessing and preparing for the impacts of climate change at the local and hāpori/community level, in partnership with mana whenua and Waitaha/Canterbury councils.

This action will be of most benefit to urban and rural communities at risk from flooding and coastal hazards.

Sub-action ID	Sub-action	New or existing action
A.1	Update the Canterbury Climate Change Risk and urgency assessments to ensure a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of key risks under different climate change scenarios.	Existing
A.2	Work with Canterbury councils to ensure coastal hazard assessments across the region incorporate up-to-date sea level rise projections in accordance with regional climate scenarios.	Existing
A.3	Identify the communities most at risk of flooding by completing location-specific risk and vulnerability assessments of assets, land, property and communities in flood-prone areas.	New
A.4	Ensure that natural hazards data are up-to-date, regionally consistent, and easily accessible.	Existing
A.5	Set out where, when and how Environment Canterbury is best placed to support adaptation planning with Canterbury communities and mana whenua.	New
A.6	Collaborate with relevant Canterbury councils and mana whenua to facilitate community-led dynamic adaptation planning for most at-risk flood-prone communities.	New

Action B: Continue to maintain and improve established flood and river resilience measures

This action reiterates our commitment to reduce the risks of flooding to communities through continued maintenance and improvement of flood and river resilience measures, including forestry, as set out in the 2024 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy.

This action will be of most benefit to urban and rural communities and coastal wetlands at risk from flooding, and presents a carbon sequestration opportunity through the forestry operations used as flood mitigation measures.

Sub-action ID	Sub-action	New or existing action
B.1	Investigate the risk of climate-related extreme weather and fire on flood protection.	New
B.2	Continue to support Canterbury councils in producing regionally consistent and complete flood models, available for viewing in one accessible place.	Existing
B.3	Progress feasibility studies of nature-based solutions for flood and erosion mitigation.	Existing
B.4	Undertake stopbank and other flood management asset repair, maintenance and upgrades as set out in Environment Canterbury’s 30-year Infrastructure Strategy.	Existing
B.5	Support Braided River Revival strategies to integrate actions which enhance climate resilience and sequestration opportunities river by river.	Existing

Action C: Inform efficient and effective contaminated land and disaster waste management in a changing climate

This action aims to provide stakeholders with key information that addresses the risks of waste generated by climateexacerbated
disasters and contaminated sites impacted by climate change.

This action will be of most benefit to solid waste management and contamination sites at risk from all hazards. This action presents an opportunity to lower emissions in the waste sector.

Sub-action ID	Sub-action	New or existing action
C.1	Work with partners to continue to maintain and update the climate vulnerable landfill risk assessment tool as new sites are identified.	Existing
C.2	Update guidance on erosion and sediment control practices for contaminated land to address climate risks.	Existing
C.3	Review and update the Canterbury Disaster Waste Management Tool, including a survey of current work in the sector.	Existing

1.3MB Environment Canterbury Climate Action Plan - Te Mahere Huringa Āhuarangi