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Director's message
Professor Jean Palutikof, NCCARF Director
Globally, August 2016 was the warmest August in the 1880–2016 record1. This brings to sixteen the number of consecutive months that have been the warmest on record, starting in May 2015. Such a run is unprecedented, and brings home the reality of climate change. In Australia, records are also being broken: according to the Bureau of Meteorology, autumn 2016 was the warmest on record with the highest recorded temperature being 47oC at Mardie in Western Australia on 3 March2. These conditions are the shape of things to come as global warming starts to have an obvious and discernible impact on our day-to-day weather.
NCCARF is funded by the Australian Government to support decision-makers and practitioners as they seek to prepare us for increasing future risk from climate change and sea-level rise. After two years of work in the second phase, this newsletter reports on new products coming available to support effective adaptation. There is news about the consultation and review around CoastAdapt, NCCARF’s decision support and information delivery framework. And new synthesis products have been published, which aim to deliver accessible and up-to-date information to the adaptation community.
Making sure that Australia has the tools and knowledge to address climate risks will help to ensure that we are well-prepared for the record-breaking conditions which are going to be the new norm.
Links:
1. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/
2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-01/australia-has-warmest-autumn-on-record/7467758
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The beta launch of CoastAdapt
The beta version of CoastAdapt was launched on 23 August in Melbourne for review and consultation. We are seeking feedback on the beta version, and also asking people to complete an on-line survey about CoastAdapt. You can access CoastAdapt, and the survey, at www.coastadapt.com.au
Currently we are undertaking a series of workshops with users all around Australia. In these workshops we provide a background to CoastAdapt and how to use it, and we look for initial responses and feedback on the product.
To date we have held workshops in Tasmania (Launceston and Hobart), South Australia (Port Lincoln and Adelaide, and Queensland (Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Mackay) and the Northern Territory (Darwin). Workshops are coming up in NSW (Ballina, Nowra, Sydney), Victoria (Traralgon, Melbourne, Warrnambool), Western Australia (Albany, Perth, Geraldton, Broome). We have also presented at a range of conferences and other workshops, and will continue to reach out as much as possible. Please contact Dave Rissik to know more.
CoastAdapt contains a wealth of information, guidance, checklists, tools, case studies and more. Information is provided in accessible language, aimed at users with a variety of technical expertise from novices to the well informed. Check it out at www.CoastAdapt.com.au
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Consultation opens for
National Adaptation Research Plans
Input will be sought during October for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plans (NARPs), which are a key responsibility of NCCARF. Five research plans are currently being updated:
Each NARP summarises the information required for sound decision making about adaptation and gaps in current knowledge, leading to identifying priority adaptation research questions and cross-theme adaptation research priorities for that area. The NARPs provide a blueprint for investment in climate change adaptation in Australia over a five to seven year period.
The process has been facilitated by the Adaptation Networks and each NARP is developed by an expert writing team. There are currently nine NARPs but only five are being updated in this round. For more information contact nccarf-research@griffith.edu.au |
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Calling for submissions
to update 'State of Play'
In developing CoastAdapt, NCCARF produced Information Manual 1: Building the Knowledge Base for Adaptation Action. This reported on the then state of existing science and regulatory frameworks relevant to CoastAdapt.
We are now updating the manual and are looking for new research and information related to coastal risk s, climate change adaptation and decision support that might be relevant to CoastAdapt.
We invite you to submit new reports, journal articles, web links or other information that you think should be included in the updated Manual.
Please go to www.nccarf.edu.au/updating-the-state-of-play to make your submission.
Contact Sarah Boulter for more information.
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Synthesis Program – the second tranche of documents available
Six new synthesis summaries were released this month to cover topics including heat and heatwaves; cyclones; floods; bushfires; community vulnerability and resilience; and terrestrial ecosystems.
The synthesis program was developed to provide accessible summaries of climate change adaptation research and knowledge. The Synthesis Summaries follow the earlier release of six Briefing Notes targeted at specific roles and sectors. Both sets are available for download on the NCCARF website:
https://www.nccarf.edu.au/synthesis
We plan to distribute the Synthesis Program at regional workshops and conferences. |
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Latest events and opportunities from the Adaptation Networks
Natural Ecosystems Network
The NEN is offering a new round of travel awards valued at AU$500 for students, early career researchers or practitioners to attend conferences, meetings or events between  November 2016 - June 2017. The travel awards are open to Network members currently enrolled in full time or part time post-graduate study at an Australian Institution or working in an environment related field. More information is available in the online form or contact Nadiah Roslan for more information.
Settlements and Infrastructure Network
Early career news: ACCARNSI held its Twelfth Early Career Adaptation Forum and Workshop in Adelaide on 26 September. Participants from industry, government and Australia's top universities met over three days to discuss research and practice on coastal management, communities and infrastructure, transport, urban design and planning and other climate adaptation research related to settlements and infrastructure. This forum focussed on Urban and Regional Infrastructure (Water, Transport and Energy) and considered key issues for infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
Infrastructure in the spotlight: ACCARNSI is undertaking a research project to ascertain the adaptive capacity of Australia's Infrastructure Sector with a survey currently underway, and a workshop and other activities planned for the remainder of ACCARNSI's Phase 2 program. Infrastructure stakeholders are invited to contact ACCARNSI to participate these infrastructure-focussed activities.
Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions Network
The SEI Network held an early career researcher and practitioner workshop at the Coast to Coast  Conference in Melbourne on the 29 August. The event attracted researchers and practitioners from governments, universities, consultancies and business groups.The unique workshop format aimed to increase adaptation knowledge among participants and encourage interactions between researchers and practitioners. The workshop featured a mix of presentations from leading researchers and the opportunity to explore the key components of a climate change adaptation strategy in a case study. The SEI Network plans to run further early career researcher and practitioner workshops in 2017. For more information contact Sarah.Connor.
Vulnerable Communities Network
The VCN is involved in two events during October, Contact Scott Hanson-Easey to find out more about these events.
1. Climate change, homelessness and housing forum: Melbourne, 18 October.
Climate change related impacts are on the rise and will disproportionately impact some of our mo  st vulnerable community members, including people facing homelessness and/or living in poor quality housing. Australian Red Cross, NCCARF Vulnerable Communities Network (VCN), University of Central Queensland and the Victorian Council of Social Service are pleased to bring together practitioners, researchers, advocates, and policy-makers to develop thinking on the intersection of climate change, social disadvantage, homelessness and poor quality housing, with a view to initiating strategies for building community resilience. For more information see Climate change, homelessness and housing
2. Power to the Poor: Adelaide, 22 October
The VCN will present information about climate change for vulnerable sectors at the Power to the Poor forum being held as part of Anti-poverty Week. This forum will feature conversation, stories and learning about advocacy for low income people. For more information see Power to the Poor |
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For more information about the Adaptation Networks see the NCCARF website:
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