Sea-level Rise: Meeting the Challenge (NZCCC Conference 2012)
Demand for science-based advice to assist coastal planning for sea-level rise due to climate change is growing. In light of this the New Zealand Climate Change Centre (NZCCC) invites you to attend a conference focussing on sea-level rise and addressing associated coastal planning challenges.
This two-day conference (10 - 11 May 2012) will include keynote speeches from internationally respected researchers as well as presentations by leading international and New Zealand-based experts and practitioners on coastal and sea-level rise issues. Panel sessions and dialogue discussions will ensure a high level of attendee input and interaction.
The NZCCC’s aim is to stimulate collaborative research and endeavour by facilitating communication between scientists, planners, councils, engineers, businesses, Māori groups and organisations dealing with climate change issues. The conference will therefore have a strong inter-disciplinary focus.
The conference will:
- Present the latest science of sea-level rise associated with climate change, including the role of polar ice-sheet melt
- Present a synthesis of recent projections for sea-level rise and discuss the uncertainties associated with these projections
- Identify anticipated impacts on New Zealand’s coastal environment and infrastructure resulting from climate change
- Discuss adaptive risk management as a framework for adapting to sea-level rise given the ranges projected and their uncertainties
- Stimulate discussion of how end-users can manage present and future coastal issues and how social and bio-physical scientists, central and local government, and infrastructure operators can work together with communities to achieve effective adaptation
- Describe approaches that have been taken to planning “coastal futures”, which take into account communities and resource-user needs underpinned by credible climate change projections, adaptive approaches to manage uncertainties, and sound approaches to developing coastal policy.
Speakers will include:
- John Church (CSIRO, Australia) will present the latest international science on the causes, attribution and projections of sea-level rise.
- A speaker from the UK (tbc) will describe approaches to adapting to sea-level rise there, including long-term tidal flood risk management for London and the Thames Estuary.
- Rob Bell (NIWA) will present historical observations and projections for New Zealand and discuss how sea-level rise will impact New Zealand in addition to other coastal hazards.
- Judy Lawrence & Martin Manning (NZCCRI, Victoria University of Wellington) will outline the nature of changing climate risk including how uncertainty can be handled using a risk-based framework adapted to consider long-term dynamic changes with surprises.
- Bruce Glavovic (Massey University) will address lessons from a range of environmental disasters for managing the impacts of climate change on the coast.
- Chris Cameron (Wellington City Council) will present the context within which New Zealand Councils operate under sea level rise and coastal planning.
- Plus many more…
Note: We are not inviting abstracts for this conference, but attendees may submit a poster.
We hope you can join us in Wellington at the NZCCC ‘Sea-Level Rise: Meeting the Challenge’ Conference 10-11 May 2012. It is sure to be a highly interesting and information-filled two days.
David Wratt
Director NZCCC & Convenor of the NZCCC Conference 2012
Save the date!
Thursday 10 & Friday 11 May 2012
Further information, including how to register and registration fees, will be available from late February 2012.
Draft Programme
A draft conference programme will be uploaded here in late February 2012.
Print Conference Flyer
Information contained on this page may be accessed as a PDF here.
More information?
Please contact Richard Nottage (NZCCC) for additional information or to note your interest in the conference: