Governments cannot be expected to “fix” climate change, NZ Minister for Climate Change David Parker says, and business and communities are vital partners in adopting sustainable practices.

Mr Parker likened sustainability to a nuclear-free future during his speech at last week’s Coastal Communities Natural Disasters conference hosted by the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ).

He says the NZ Government’s work on sustainable water programs, flood management and biodiversity threats are important steps that ultimately require business and community support.

“New Zealand organisations, industry and business now publicly recognise the important role they have to play in the climate challenge. They can help to drive behavioural changes, as well as purchasing patterns by consumers.”

This month’s report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found particular vulnerabilities in NZ. It cited water security problems in Northland and many eastern regions, a loss of biodiversity in alpine areas and risks to coastal developments in areas such as Northland and the Bay of Plenty from rising sea levels, storms and coastal flooding.

ICNZ is warning that councils must invest millions of dollars in flood walls and erosion prevention to protect seaside residents against more frequent and extreme weather events.