30 May, 2016 by Staff Reporter
On Friday 8 April, 2016, The Antarctic Report hosted a conference in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, called Sea Level Rise: Implementing Adaptation Strategies. The conference brought together international experts, as well as New Zealand’s leading policy makers, scientists and key industry representatives, to showcase effective adaptation strategies to manage the impact of sea level rise in New Zealand.
In the tenth presentation of the day, Matt Paterson of the Property Council New Zealand spoke about the importance of optimising the planning processes around sea level rise from a commercial property perspective. He highlights in particular the significance of taking a sensible, cost-effective and long-term approach to urban planning in order to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, and the risks of a short-sighted, knee-jerk reaction.
Matt Paterson is the government relations director of Property Council New Zealand, and serves as the commercial property sector’s voice into Government. Matt has a range of policy and political experience across government organisations, having managed emissions trading policy at the Ministry for the Environment, been Private Secretary to the Minister for Climate Change Issues, and 11 years as a diplomat representing New Zealand policies overseas.
Sea Level Rise: Implementing Adaptation Strategies was organised in association with AUT and The Royal Society of New Zealand.
