Learning intention: Building on their knowledge of the local climate and any recent events, students explore predicted impacts of climate change on Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes how it may affect them in the future and things that could be done now to reduce the outcome.
This activity involves working through Taskpad step 3: Future climate effects’. Students will revisit what is important to them and any risks that predicted climate change may have on them and their community. This relates to Step 3 of the Climate Change Adaptation Toolbox: How will climate change affect you?
How do scientists predict our future climate?
Watch NIWA video as a class: Climate change projections: How do scientists predict our future climate?
Discussion questions (starting guide):
Climate change impacts for NZ – what does it means to be able to prepare?
Climate change futures – two pathways:
- Mid-range.
- Extreme scenario.
The pathway depends on what we do together to reduce greenhouse gases. However, even with efforts, some change and impacts will occur, such as:
- Temperature has already increased by around 1 degree in the past 100 years.
- Mid-range scenario – 1.4 degree increase by 2100.
- Extreme – 3 degree increase by 2100.
What will it mean?
- Disadvantages: e.g. pests, pressure on crops.
- Advantages: e.g. suitable for new crops such as pineapples and bananas.
Climate change impact presentation
- Run through (or ask students to use for independent research and summarise) Climate change and possible impacts for New Zealand webpage
- Discuss how climate change may impact students in the future.
Fill out Taskpad Step 3 in groups (you should have downloaded the Taskpad in Activity one)
- Each group spends time researching impacts for their region.
- Discuss this as a class.
Possible resources:
- Providing climate change advice for New Zealand.
- Our Future Climate New Zealand (NIWA).
- Your local or regional council website.
- Brainstorm with the class other possible sources of information.
2050 weather forecast
Watch this climate change weather forecast video "from" 2050:
Recreate news article/presentation
- Recreate your news article/presentation from a future perspective with the added impact of climate change.
- Present back to class.