ILWS - Institute of Land, Water and Society

Strategic Research Area

Social Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation

Led by Prof Kevin Parton and Prof Mark Morrison

Issue

Effective adaptation to climate change requires adaptation at multiple levels. Adaptation is required by households and businesses. Adaptation also requires that governments implement strategies and policies that create the structures and incentives that will lead to carbon neutrality and communities that are resilient to the impacts of climate change. 

At both the business and household levels information is needed about beliefs, knowledge and attitudes towards energy use, climate change science and policy, as well as current behaviours regarding energy use. Information is needed about strategies that will be most effective at encouraging households and businesses to reduce energy use.  Information is also needed about strategies that will be most effective at helping households and businesses adapt to changes in climate.

At the community, local and state government levels research is needed to understand and measure communities’ state of readiness for managing the impacts of climate change; how communities are currently affected by climate change; and how community design can be altered to better prepare communities for further climate change.

At the Commonwealth government level social and economic information is needed to inform climate change policy. One of the challenges in public policy development is that there is much misinformation in the community about the economic consequences of climate change policy, and the nature of potential policy interventions.  There is a continuing need to conduct research on how to better communicate information about climate change science and policy.

 

Research is also needed on alternatives and complements to the climate change policy instruments currently being considered by the Commonwealth government.

Aim

The focus of the SRA is the to assess how the response by individuals and organisation to climate change (adaptation and mitigation) and to climate change policy will proceed, and to contribute to policy as it unfolds.

Overview of the SRA (pdf)
Proposed project Leadership Issues in Climate Change (pdf)

“The SRA wants to assist communities reach their goals of sustainable development as they face a major challenge from climate change. Our aims are to define the best options in terms of adaptation and mitigation, and highlight the steps that must be taken in order to achieve sustainable outcomes in an efficient and equitable manner. Much of the work of the SRA is about the trade-offs required in managing contested landscapes. ” – Prof Kevin Parton and Prof Mark Morrison