Introduction
1.1 Climate Change Context
Preparing Australia for the unavoidable impacts of climate change is imperative. Australia's climate is clearly changing and increasing temperatures, sea level rise, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent and intense extreme climatic events are likely. Many Australian sectors and systems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including the functions and responsibilities of Australian local governments.
This report was developed as part of the Australian Government's support for adaptation to climate change and aims to help to address the need to prepare Australian governments, vulnerable industries, communities and ecosystems to manage the unavoidable consequences of climate change. This report forms part of a suite of tools being developed to assist local governments in identifying and implementing climate change adaptation actions. In particular, this report complements Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management—A Guide for Business and Government, released in May 2006.
This report has evolved from the understanding that the level of uncertainty of climate change projections makes it difficult for local governments to prioritise their commitment to adaptation. The most effective adaptation to a changing climate appears to require knowledge of both how the climate will change and how the changes will affect the environment, society and the economy. In addition, changes in other key variables, such as technology, personal preferences and social values, will also influence the rate of climate change, our ability to adapt to it and an increased focus on adaptation planning.
The most easily implemented adaptation actions for local governments are those that, regardless of what changes are occurring to Australia's climate, will provide a net benefit to the environment, society and/or the economy. The fact that some degree of benefit or co-benefits will occur irrespective of the scale of climate change, will help lessen the difficulties associated with scientific uncertainty when implementing adaptation actions.
1.2 Report Outline
The primary objective of this report is to identify climate change adaptation actions that are applicable to Australia's climatic conditions and climate impact risks as currently predicted (using the Climate Change in Australia Technical Report 2007) and that can be implemented by Australian local governments. In developing these actions, the following six local functions were considered:
- infrastructure and property services
- provision of recreation facilities
- health services
- planning and development approvals
- natural resource management
- water and sewerage services.
The adaptation actions that have been identified during this study are those that provide a net economic, social or environmental benefit no matter what level of climate change occurs. The actions that are identified in this report have been developed through:
a) Literature Review
A review was undertaken of the existing literature and information on climate change adaptation actions available at both the international and domestic level that are relevant to the key responsibilities of local government. A full list of all references is provided at Section 6.
b) Key Informant Interviews
To support the review of relevant information addressing climate change adaptation strategies and the development of possible new strategies, informal discussions were held with a number of relevant stakeholders. During these discussions, stakeholder views were obtained on the possible types of adaptation strategies, existing local government initiatives that were of relevance to climate change adaptation, and recommendations of possible mechanisms for implementation. Consulted organisations are identified at Appendix A.