A thumbs-up to the proposed Regional Climate Change Strategy at Thursday's (8 Feb) Environment Southland (ES) meeting now means that all four Southland councils have given their approval to the plan.

A group of tangata whenua representatives and regional councils, under Co-chairs ES Councillor Phil Morrison and Te Ao Mārama (TAMI) kaupapa taiao manager Dean Whaanga, have been working on the plan since early 2023.

Morrison said Southland had already faced floods, as seen in 2020 and 2023, as well as dry spells and droughts.

He said that climate change would significantly affect communities, nature, and resources meaning changes in how we use land, where we put important things, and how businesses operate.

The group's first job is to create a plan that guides each council's Long-term Plan, shaping how Murihiku Southland responds to climate change.

This includes cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions and getting ready for changes across the region.

Whaanga said they were using both science and local knowledge to tackle the changing climate and make the community strong.

Morrison pointed out the importance of understanding the benefits of investing in resilience compared to the costs of recovering from events.

The plan sets principles for working together on issues like sea-level rise and protecting nature.

Next steps include making a Regional Framework for Action, deciding on specific actions, and figuring out what's most important. National climate projections are being updated by NIWA, and this info will help in making local projections.

ES will be collecting public opinions on the plan from late February to early May.

The group will check this feedback before finalizing and approving the Regional Climate Change Strategy, expected by mid-2024.