An assessment of vulnerability to climate change in Auckland

This report carries out a vulnerability assessment taking Auckland as a case study. As Auckland has varying geographic, socio-economic and climatic patterns, an assessment at the local level could assist decision-makers to better identify exposed assets and communities at greater risks of climate change impacts as well as to explore mechanisms for developing resilience.

The assessment is based on the construction of two indices: the impact index (II; representing exposure and sensitivity) and the adaptive capacity index (ACI), for which a number of socio-economic, demographic and climatic variables are selected. Census area units (CAU) are the level of analysis. The assessment entails a relative comparison (ranking) of CAUs in terms of the vulnerability indices. Vulnerability hotspots are defined as those CAUs suffering high climate change impact and having low adaptive capacity. It is found that the hotspots locate to the south of the Auckland isthmus and in western Auckland and are characterised by relatively high rates of one-parent households, lower average household income, higher housing stress (greater income allocated to rent payments); low shares of house ownership and high deprivation index; and low proportions of cropland, grassland or forest.

This report contributes to the understanding of the drivers of vulnerability in Auckland as well as their spatial variation across the region.