A confronting new report, released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has painted a stark picture of the damaging consequences of global warming.

The report, authored by 200 scientists and drawing on more than 14,000 studies, has found human-induced climate change is influencing weather and climate extremes across the globe.

Climate change is already affecting every region on Earth, in multiple ways. The changes we experience will increase with additional warming.

Many of today’s changes in the climate are unprecedented and some of the changes that are already set in motion – such as sea level rises – will not be corrected for hundreds to thousands of years.

We are already facing adverse effects of climate change – overnight we had widespread, rolling power outages across a number of regions, affecting thousands of whānau, because demand for electricity on one of the coldest nights of the year saw the network reach critical capacity levels.

Flooding last month, as well as a snow storm this week, have plagued the South Island, while devastating fires are sweeping through Greece and the US.

The evidence is unequivocal as to the damage and harm that is already upon whānau across the motu and the world.

Responding to this threat will require action and leadership from everyone – government, businesses, investors, communities and individuals.

Work is already being done by iwi in the Bay of Plenty, partnering with five leading New Zealand research institutes to explore short, medium and long-term solutions to the threat of climate change towards sustainable marine and land development.

Through this partnership, we have access to thousands of New Zealand and international scientists who will work alongside iwi and whānau towards our shared goals.

Te Taumata sees partnerships and collaboration like this as the key to fighting climate change and we urge others to do the same.