Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

This week I attended a workshop on a research project that will update and improve projections of climate trends, variability and extremes across New Zealand out to 2100, based on the latest global projections.

A four-year research project funded by government, it's focusing on the potential impacts of climate change and variability on our environment, natural ecosystems and native species; and on the productive activities, which depend on the environment to enable continued growth and prosperity. Funded by central government, the project has numerous research partners including universities, Crown research institutes and government departments.

The aim is improved climate projections, and better coordination and understanding of climate change science to support decision and policy making for our future.

The Kaituna area has been selected as a case study of the impacts of climate change on a lowland environment, and the workshop introduced the project to a range of interested parties.

Among the participants were council, industry, iwi and community representatives; and it was fascinating to hear the different perspectives of how changes in climate may affect the area, and what work needs to be done to enable us to plan for the future.

Future impacts of the predicted more extreme weather events, higher temperatures and sea level rises are lowland flooding, threatened coastal dune systems and the likelihood of land-use change.

It's reassuring to find a lot of research and work is underway, and it provides opportunities to collaborate to get the best outcomes for all.

If you have views on this, or any other issue, you can email me at neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150.