Climate projects
Flood modelling in Southland
To better understand flood risks, Environment Southland uses flood modelling to assess how river systems respond to rainfall, land use changes and climate change.
Murihiku Slow the Flow programme and 'blueprint'
Murihiku Slow the Flow was a pilot programme jointly delivered by Te Ao Mārama Inc. and Environment Southland. Focused on the upper Mataura catchment, Murihiku Slow the Flow tested how a collaborative approach — bringing together technical, cultural and place-based knowledge — could be used to assess the potential for nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk and improve catchment-wide environmental wellbeing.
Murihiku Slow the Flow offers our region a tested process or 'blueprint' for evaluating, agreeing on and planning future flood resilience upgrades, including how nature-based solutions can be considered alongside traditional infrastructure.
Organisational Greenhouse Gas emissions baseline profile
Environment Southland has developed an organisational Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions baseline measurement to understand the emissions we produce from our operations
This project will also establish the associated systems for ongoing measurement, reporting and management of GHG emissions.
Environment Southland plays an important role in climate change action in Murihiku Southland. While a lot of our efforts are in the climate adaptation space, for example the maintenance and improvement of the region’s flood protection network, measurement of GHG emissions is also important and a key step in our own emissions reduction journey.
You can read a copy of the Environment Southland Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baseline Report here. The measurement organisational GHG emissions will be carried out annually.
Organisational Net zero target
In April 2023, Environment Southland councillors adopted an organisational target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions being offset through actions like planting trees.
Regional Emissions Profile
Great South, Southland’s regional development agency, measures regional emissions annually and the most recent report Southland Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2021 shows there is a progressively downward trend, which is positive. This reduction in emissions is expected to continue as large-scale decarbonisation projects are completed and as coal use is progressively phased out.
Murihiku Southland currently contributes 9.2% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s net emissions, which is a reduction from 9.7% from the emissions recorded in the 2018 baseline year. Read more.
Regional Framework for Action
The Regional Climate Change Strategy (Phase One) was developed collaboratively by the four Southland councils and Te Ao Mārama and adopted in October 2024.
The next step was to develop a Regional Framework for Action to translate the strategy into action.
This framework outlines priority actions, including emissions reduction, climate adaptation, and financial planning to support Southlanders in adjusting to climate challenges.
To ensure the framework reflects the needs and priorities of the community, the Regional Climate Change Working Group held a series of public and stakeholder engagements. These aimed to raise awareness, gather insights on climate concerns and opportunities, and explore the actions people are already taking.
Regional Framework for Action
Shifting seasons, more extreme weather and impacts on plant and crop cycles are among a wide range of climate changes people are noticing in Murihiku Southland.
From January to May 2025, more than 350 people and organisations contributed their thoughts and opinions on how our region’s changing climate is affecting them, what actions they’re taking, and what more councils could do to support climate action.
These key insights have been used to help develop the Regional Framework for Action on Climate for Murihiku Southland.
The purpose of the framework is to set the foundation for a Murihiku Southland Climate Action Plan, refreshed every three years, reflecting a 10-year outlook.
Read the Regional Framework for Action here
Climate collaboration hui
