Key initiatives
National Climate Change Adaptation Framework
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework, at its meeting on 13 April 2007, as the basis for government action on adaptation over the next five to seven years.
The Adaptation Framework includes possible actions to assist the most vulnerable sectors and regions, such as agriculture, biodiversity, fisheries, forestry, settlements and infrastructure, coastal, water resources, tourism and health to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
- National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (PDF file)
National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
The Australian Government established the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility in early 2008. The Facility is hosted by Griffith University in partnership with seven other universities and the Queensland Government. Prof Jean Palutikof, an internationally renowned climate change expert, has been appointed as the foundation Director of the Facility.
The Facility will lead the Australian research community in a major national inter-disciplinary effort to generate the information decision makers need to manage the risks of climate change impacts. The Council of Australian Governments agreed in 2007 on the need for this Facility.
The Facility will synthesise knowledge, coordinate research activities, broker research partnerships and provide information for decision makers in a form relevant to their sectoral or regional needs. The Facility will be supported by a number of sectoral/regional Adaptation Research Networks, which will harness research expertise to help build a collaborative environment supporting creative, inter-disciplinary research that aims to bridge gaps between fundamental and applied science and advance priority sectoral research.
Draft National Adaptation Research Plan on Disaster Management and Emergency Services
The Australian Government Department of Climate Change and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility invite you to comment on the Draft National Adaptation Research Plan on Disaster Management and Emergency Services.
The National Adaptation Research Plan on Disaster Management and Emergency Services is part of a suite of plans being developed by the Department and the Facility for priority theme areas. A drafting group, chaired by Mr Tony Pearce, has developed the Plan in consultation with stakeholders and the research community. It identifies critical gaps in the information needed by decision makers, industry and the community, set research priorities based on these gaps, and identifies capacity that could be harnessed to conduct priority research. It will be a key mechanism to focus investment in climate change and disaster management/emergency services research on national priorities.
A copy of the draft Plan can be obtained from the Facility website at www.griffith.edu.au/research/nccarf/content_narp.html or by contacting Frank Stadler (email: f.stadler@griffith.edu.au tel: 07 5552 7268).
We are consulting widely on this Draft Plan and welcome your feedback. You can either use the feedback form available on the Facility's website, or contact Frank Stadler (see details above) to provide comment. Comments close Thursday 27 November 2008
National Climate Change Adaptation Program
The National Climate Change Adaptation Program aims to commence preparing Australian governments and vulnerable industries and communities for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Climate change adaptation
The Australian Government has also committed funding of up to $126 million over five years for climate change adaptation.
The Department of Climate Change is the Australian Government's focal point for climate change adaptation, will play a key role in implementing parts of the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework endorsed by COAG in April 2007. The Department will:
- drive national efforts to increase Australia's ability to respond effectively to the impacts of climate change
- provide decision-makers with the information and tools they need to understand and assess the risks of climate change impacts
- work with partners to demonstrate adaptation approaches that deliver multiple benefits
- facilitate and support businesses, communities and governments to develop and implement strategies to manage their risks from the impacts of climate change. Strong partnerships with these groups will ensure that the Centre's work meets their needs, is practical at local and regional levels, and encourages new ways of doing things.
- deliver a number of important policy, program and research functions, coordinated through a new Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
Climate Change Adaptation Skills for Professionals Program
Architects, engineers, natural resource managers and planners have crucial roles in building Australia's ability to adapt to a changing climate, in particular, in choosing appropriate and practical adaptation strategies that reduce the vulnerability of our settlements and infrastructure, natural ecosystems and water resources to the impacts of climate change.
The Climate Change Adaptation Skills for Professionals Program is providing small grants to tertiary education and training institutions and professional associations to revise or develop professional development and accreditation programs geared towards architects, engineers, natural resource managers and planners.
- Announcement of successful applicants - 6 May 2008
