Editorial: Glacial response to warming

There's a well-told story about Pablo Picasso strolling barefoot on a beach before kneeling to sketch in the sand with his finger.

Admirers watched in awe as a hasty piece materialised in minutes.

Ecstasy turned to agony for his fawning clique who noticed the turning tide encroach on the fresh work. The only one unfazed was the artist, who continued on his way while others tried in vain to curb the incoming tide.

It's a climate change parable of sorts, where some see the imminent danger, while others shrug it off.

This week we were given a serious reminder courtesy the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, claiming New Zealand needs to "completely overhaul" the way it's preparing for rising sea levels.

Her newly released report said the Government needs to start preparing for the huge potential cost of rising oceans driven by climate change, which could lead to the "managed retreat" of coastal communities to higher ground.

While she was quick to add the size and timing of impacts are uncertain, the edict from the top was quite foreboding. Looking ahead about 50 years, Napier alone will boast about 8000 homes and 76 businesses under threat.

The response from local politicians was one of acceptance - as opposed to one of action. Some said it was being addressed, others claimed there were plans for a coastal strategy. One described it as "a wake up call".

Problem is, I remember getting a wake-up call from an environmentalist visiting my primary school about 35 years ago. The speed of our collective approach, despite such warnings, remains glacial.

A Waikato friend of mine raised a moot point years ago during a disagreement over rising sea levels. He said should the apocalyptic sea-level theories materialise, the often slandered, maligned cities like Palmerston North and Hamilton would be in for a windfall.

That is, while the coastal glamour regions like ours wrestle with the incoming tide, the net worth of inland Palmerston North and Hamilton, will be left happy, high and dry.