We have seen recently a big shift in climate change debates, from a (necessarily) science-led debate over whether and by how much change would occur, to a discussion of what should be done.  This invites contributions from a wider range of disciplines and other knowledge systems, and attention to scales that match human decision making rather than the resolution of climate models.  Mitigation debates, dominated by a limited menu of policy instruments are politically fraught but should agreement (miraculously) be obtained, the way forward is comprehensible.

Adaptation is altogether a messier task, across a bewildering array of environments, socio-economic contexts, sectors, jurisdictions, climate impacts, capacities, etc.  Current adaptation literature is strong on generalities, instructions about the ends of policy change, and random examples, but thin on the means to these ends and available strategies.

The Lecture (flyer)

Prof Dovers will try and make a practical contribution by helping to redirect thinking about adaptation.  For Australia is adapting to climate change going to be: (i) more of the same for a society that should be used to living in a variable climate; (ii) more than that, but still within our intellectual and institutional capacities; or (iii) a challenge beyond these capacities?  What do we already know we should do? In as much a provocation as a seminar, I will prosecute the case that we have well-understood and available adaptive strategies which would collectively, across a variety of sectors and issues and justifiable on non-climate grounds, equal a very believable adaptation strategy.  Would that be enough: Probably not - hence the sub-title “up to a point” - but we might get halfway or more, quickly?  The argument will be general, but examples from a range of sectors will be used to suggest that the prospect of ripe low-hanging fruit should be the first stop in adaptation policy, and that current flux over claimed or excused practical and policy responsibilities might thus be better comprehended.

The Lecturer
Professor Steve Dovers is Director, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University.

Time and Date
1 pm - 2 pm Thurs 14 May 2009
Venue
Lecture Theatre, Forestry Building (48) Linnaeus Way, ANU

A high level public forum on Australia, China and climate change will be held at ANU on Wednesday 15 April 2009. The forum will be hosted by the ANU China Institute, ANU Climate Change Institute, China Economy and Business Program and the East Asia Forum. It will provide an important opportunity for independent dialogue between Chinese and Australian experts on issues leading up to the United Nations COP 15 Copenhagen climate change conference in December 2009.

Registration for the forum will open in mid February 2009 via the ANU Climate Change Institute website events page.

To learn more about the Master of Climate Change see:

http://cmbe.anu.edu.au/cw/climate/

Photo: ANU students at UNFCCC CoP 13 Climate Change Conference - Bali, Dec 2007.

Climate change is rapidly becoming the defining challenge for humanity in the 21^st century. Dealing with climate change demands new types of knowledge – every bit as demanding and rigorous as traditional academic knowledge but more integrated and connected, and more closely linked to practitioners searching for solutions to the climate change challenge.

The ANU is in an exceptionally strong position to contribute to the generation of these new types of knowledge. The University’s strength in climate change research is its breadth – from fundamental climate science to economics, governance and law – and the quality and depth in these and other areas.

The CCI’s vision is to build and support a cohesive, interactive community of climate change-related researchers and teachers at the ANU.

Our mission is to contribute to climate change solutions through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to research and teaching, drawing on the wealth of expertise across the University’s seven colleges, and to connect our work to governments, the private sector and civil society.

On this site you’ll find a who’s who of climate-related research and teaching at the ANU, a description of our core capabilities, accounts of the new and exciting interdisciplinary projects being developed under the auspices of the CCI, the latest news on our activities, the CCI product portfolio, links to related sites in Australia and around the world, and much more.

We hope that you find our website informative and enjoyable. We welcome your comments and suggestions on our work, and on its presentation on this site.

Professor Will Steffen
Executive Director
ANU Climate Change Institute
Photo:  Will Steffen August 2008 - rock art,  Arnham Land