Local action on adaptation to climate change remains insufficient across government levels, stymied by lack of resources, complexity and uncertainty about who should be making the decisions.
Researchers met with Victorian communities subject to climate-related disasters including bushfires, coastal erosion and flooding, as well as slow-moving disasters such as drought in 2012 and in 2022.
They found despite a willingness from the community to progress adaptation measures, little changed over the intervening decade despite recommendations from the researchers and community groups.
The results have been published in the journal Climate, the paper authored by Dr Michael Spencer, from Monash University’s Green Lab at Monash Business School and Dr Janet Stanley, from The University of Melbourne.
The researchers held two workshops with community groups in 2012, in Bass Coast and South Gippsland in Southern Victoria, with a total of 61 participants, and in 2022, in the Shire of Strathbogie and the City of Greater Shepparton, Central Victoria, with a total of 33 participants.
Both projects sought the views of local officials and community members regarding what climate adaptation action had taken place, and the barriers and facilitators that impacted action.
The researchers found barriers to local action raised in 2012 remained in 2022, including:
- the need to improve the government’s approach to adaptation
- a feeling that the higher levels of government were not playing their part
- lack of resources and capability to support community action
- the complex and systemic nature of climate impacts
- uncertainty about who should be making the adaptation decisions.
“Governance was an issue at both workshops. In 2012 this was commonly associated with the problems of decision-making and 2022 it was also associated with implementation,” Dr Spencer said.
“It is interesting to note that the importance of local leadership was raised in both 2012 and 2022.”
Small gains had been achieved: in 2012 the availability of maps showing likely coastal changes over time was positively noted; in 2022 community groups had implemented local projects such as tree planting and groundwater measurement.
Steps that could be taken to strengthen adaptation action:
Participants in 2012 suggested the following tasks were needed to achieve adaptation action:
- Adaptation should be strategic and planned, and include both governments and communities.
- The community needs to be empowered to act.
- Local decision-making should include all interested and relevant parties.
- A specified local group should be established to organise and coordinate adaptation.
- Local governments need to be able to access funds considerably beyond the current rate cap as state, federal and private funds.
Participants in 2022 suggested the following:
- Adaptation needs to be undertaken prior to a disaster or emergency event (prevention), so that all the work is not done on the back of disasters.
- A need to support and encourage adaptation leaders in the community and local governments to assist the community to undertake adaptation initiatives.
- An improved understanding of climate change impacts in the community and collaboration with First Nations.
- Prioritisation of vulnerable people given they are often the ones to feel the greatest impact from climate change and least resourced for adaptation.
Dr Stanley said, “both workshops revealed local awareness of the need for adaptation, with the 2022 workshop also indicating that climate change knowledge had increased since 2012.”
“The workshops also revealed a willingness to undertake and/or participate in local adaptation actions in areas that encompassed their remit.
“However, government expectation that a major cross-sector response could be achieved at the community level without significant support, resources and guidance was identified, in both 2012 and 2022, as highly unrealistic.”
To accomplish the extensive and complex task of adapting all sectors of society and assist the environment, the paper points to the need for a purpose-built governance structure to guide, resource, and assist the community, business to achieve a safe environment that supports wellbeing for all.
Please read the paper: Here
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