The Finance Minister believes the change in climate presents a significant challenge to the country’s infrastructure during the next 30-years.

The Greens are criticising the government’s 30-year infrastructure plan for not addressing the effects of climate change.

But Bill English said the government expects planners and the infrastructure sector will take it into account.

"Part of the 30 year plan is to get as much information available to all of them as possible about what the scenarios might be."

English said it’s hard to put specific climate change plans in place when it’s unclear what the effects will be.