June 26^th
2009

The Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Australian Capital Territory and Region (ACT&R) Project is designed to make a key contribution to climate change adaptation work in the region and contribute to showcasing the ACT&R as a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable region.  The overarching objective of the Project, which is being carried out under the auspices of the new ANU Climate Change Institute, is for the region to be recognised as a leader in climate change vulnerability and adaptation approaches, and to engage the community and other stakeholders in developing those approaches.

The Project focuses initially on at least four critical dimensions of vulnerability to climate change in the region: 1) water resources, 2) fire regimes, 3) health and social systems, and 4) governance, policy and legal aspects, and is based on two principal approaches:

• a partnership between the ACT and NSW governments and agencies and the University, also involving civil society and the private sector, and
• participatory development of  an interlinked physical/climatic, social and economic research and analysis effort, based on known vulnerabilities and adaptation to prior climate changes.

The study as a whole is designed to be strongly integrative, drawing on our national and international networks to adapt world’s best practice to the ACT&R.  The project has been split into two phases, the first of which has been funded by the ACT Government, with in-kind contribution from the NSW Government.  Phase 1 will provide a synthesis of past and present research on climate vulnerability and adaptation in the ACR, with a key goal to identifying critical knowledge gaps.  Phase 1 of the Project meets a number of the key objectives of the ACT Government as described in Weathering the Change: The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007-2025.  Funding will be sought for Phase 2 of the project, which is intended to build a program of research activity focussing on the key knowledge gap areas identified in Phase 1.

The Project Reference Group consists of the ANU project team and key staff of the ACT Government Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW) and the NSW Government [DPC and DECC].

The project team at the ANU consists of:

• Prof. Will Steffen (Executive Director, ANU Climate Change Institute)
• A/Prof. Janette Lindesay (Deputy Director, ANU Climate Change Institute)
• Dr Bob Webb (Convenor, Integration Studies, ANU Climate Change Institute and ACT&R Project Director)

For further information please contact:

Dr Bob Webb

T: + 61 (0)416216126 (mob)
E: Bob.Webb@anu.edu.au