Adapting to our changing climate

Climate change will have significant impacts on people’s health, with children and older people the most vulnerable, according to the World Health Organisation.

Reducing emissions will have big health benefits. And we also need to ensure that the very places we care for and look after New Zealanders who are at risk and sick can adapt and be resilient to climate change.

The recommendations from the National Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group calls for urgent action to improve adaptation. Climate change impacts will affect almost every aspect of public service delivery and business, and early action can reduce risks. Reporting on the impacts of climate change on their service delivery and business and how they are adapting to those impacts, can place organisations in a better position to reduce the costs of climate changes to their businesses and encourage adaptation innovation and technologies.

Listen back to this webinar and hear from the Ministry of Health and Bay of Plenty District health board on their plans for a changing climate and how this connects in and is rewarded in Green Star, complete with examples of steps already taken at a national and local level.

Moderator:

Andrew Eagles, CEO, NZ Green Building Council

Panellists:

• Debbie Wilson, Principal Sustainability Advisor, Asset Management & Analysis, Health Infrastructure Unit, Ministry of Health
• Kathryn Jessamine, Public health engineer in the Environmental & Border Health Team Ministry of Health
• Vicktoria Blake, Sustainability Manager, Bay of Plenty, District Health Board
• Brad Crowley, Senior Manager, Buildings and communities