‘Our Changing Climate’ in Murihiku Southland
Help shape our Regional Climate Action Framework
Our changing climate brings both challenges and opportunities for Murihiku Southland.
Communities across Southland are already taking action on climate change - restoring wetlands, converting to clean energy, and getting informed.
Everyone has a part to play in shaping our climate-ready future.
Climate change affects us all, and local knowledge and mātauranga (traditional knowledge) is needed to make a plan that will work. Local government agencies have responsibilities to support our communities to plan for climate disruption.
Let’s share what we know as we work together to find solutions.
Join us in shaping a framework for action that reflects what matters to you and the aspirations of our region.
Share Your Voice – Shape the Future
We want to hear from you about how our changing climate affects you, your whānau/family, your livelihoods and your community.
We now need your input into the regional framework for action on our changing climate in Murihiku Southland – here’s what you can help us with:
What changes in the climate have you noticed in your area? Flooding? Windier days?
Are you doing anything differently because of our changing climate? Using your drier more? Planting crops at new times?
What actions are needed to support our region’s response to our changing climate? What are you already doing? What else could we be doing?
Share your thoughts and observations with us.
Let us know how our changing climate is affecting you
I'm noticing more windy days.
1. Autumns are getting longer, winters are getting milder. Plants are flowering longer and or sooner. Plants are growing better and frosts arent knocking them back in winter - so huge potential for more weeds to appear. Extreme weather events. Warmer and drier summers (not complaining too much). Weeds that havent been a problem here before now starting to spread - eg Larch, banana passionfruit etc
2. Mowing my lawns more into late autumn. having to weed the garden more. Pushing my outdoor summer recreational activities further into autumn / winter.
3. Future thinking, restrictions and thoughts put in now to help the future. Eg water usage, hydro electric, changing landuse, species grown etc. Getting on top of new weeds as they start appearing. Retreating from the coast, not permitting people to build in flood or coastal areas. Thinking about fire danger and putting in fire breaks etc in forests etc.
Firstly the 3 question panels won't currently work for me to fill in, that said here are my responses:
1) I have noticed subtle and not particularly noticeable changes in average overall temperature and an increase in peak summer maximum temperatures which appears to be connected to changes in ecosystems, noticeable in local cultivated gardens, farmland, & natural wild habitats. It's no surprise that the changes are currently subtle, being the southernmost region in the nation we are one of the last global regions to see and feel the direct effects of global temperature increases due to our distance away from the equator and proximity to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. I have also noticed what appears a subtle increase in sea level, flooding on SH1 @Oceanbeach (which is being attended to) and also at Green Point reserve where erosion is encroaching and destroying "where the land meets the sea" plant ecosystems that appear to have lived there for a long time without being affected.
2)Personally, to the best of my ability to live a clean green low as possible carbon lifestyle.
3) Actions, more community climate education. Concerted pushback against climate denial & ignorance, including calling out current climate ignoring political actions. Monitor local, national, and global climate knowledge and changes and pass up to date information to the community. Continued collaboration of local government & central government, with inclusion of the wider community in regard to climate change.
my concern is the many planes flying over southland spraying chemtrails. you may reply saying that they are just contrails but i can tell you that they are not. contrails or water condensation evaporates where as the chemtrails these planes are leaving spread. regardless of my opinion or your opinion it should be in the health and safety of our community that you should investigate this issue.
thank you
The climate is changing over time
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