Professor Darryn McEvoy Leader of the Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP), Global Cities Institute, RMIT University, Melbourne Deputy Director, Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR) Port Moresby, 2014

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Challenges facing local government response to climate change 1.Context setting. 2.What is adaptation to climate change? 3.Projects in the Pacific. 4.Reflections on the issues and challenges.

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Context setting 1.Mitigation: action to limit global warming. Cities: decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. 2.Adaptation: planning for, and responding to, climate- related impacts i.e. managing the impact of change that we can’t avoid. 3.Disaster risk reduction: planning and responding to extreme events (hazards-led approach) 4.Development: vulnerability-led approaches 5.Resilience: appealing concept but yet to be operationalised (response to disturbance, capacity to self organise, and ability to learn).

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Adaptation to climate change – a complex problem structure 1.Multiple framings: scientifically, politically, and socially 2.Climate variability versus longer term climate change 3.Adaptation is context specific 4.Dimensions: hazards, sensitivity, exposure, adaptive capacity 5.Hazards-based approach: heat, flooding, drought, storms, sea level rise, fires 6.Sensitivity-based approach: different elements at risk within the urban environment – infrastructure, buildings, space between buildings, and people

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Adaptation to climate change – a complex problem structure (2) 1.Exposure: changing over time / spatial planning 2.Adaptive capacity: adaptation as both an outcome and a learning process 3.Forms of adaptation: engineering, technology, land use planning, regulations, design standards, insurance, EWS, knowledge transfer, capacity building, institutional adaptive management etc. 4.What is to be adapted to, but also how and who? Adaptation pathways!

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Spatial issues 1.Urban system: city-wide, neighbourhood, building level 2.Different urban typologies: CBD, redevelopment / infill, suburbs, peri-urban, linkage with rural areas 3.Urban size, form and function 4.Geographical dimension

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Europe 1.Planning for future climate change 2.Established cities – emphasis on retro-fitting

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Australia 1.Exposure to current day weather-related extremes 2.Also thinking about future climate change and variability 3.Coastal but also regional towns

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Asia-Pacific 1.Already experiencing climate (and non-climate) related disasters 2.Rapid urbanisation and associated issues 3.Additional complexity of development drivers 4.Large diversity between regions and countries

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Key lessons learnt (seaports) 1.Different types of climate data is needed. Also, longer term change for engineering; extreme events for supply chain. 2.Other hazards are important, not just climate change. 3.CSIRO Pacific Futures is a valuable resource for considering uncertain futures. 4.Sectoral approach can be useful in focussing attention to detail.

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Key lessons learnt 2 (seaports) 1.Seaports are important in the Pacific context – economic gateways and also important for issues like food security. 2.Seaports are an important link to urban centres and partnerships are a core element of adaptation: – National Met service, public - private etc. 3.Collaboration is needed – example of flooding.

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Key lessons learnt (urban vulnerability assessment) 1.Much vulnerability assessment / activity is rural based; 2.Urbanisation introduces more complexity – land tenure, informal settlements, social networks; traditional practice; 3.Current vulnerability is a major issue, not just future climate change (question of emphasis); 4.Institutional capacity to respond is limited, personnel turn-over can be an issue, and multi-level responsibilities can be blurred (adaptation as a diffuse issue).

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Key lessons learnt 2 (urban vulnerability assessment) 1.Need for better integration between top down expert driven activity v bottom up community-based approaches; 2.Introduction of building standards and regulations which account for climate change; 3.Need for grassroots champions: ward level, women, churches, informal settlements (recognising importance of equity); 4.How best to engage with different communities?

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Challenges What do we need to adapt to? (climate risk / vulnerability assessment, top-down v bottom up); Integration of DRR and CCA – target existing vulnerabilities in a short to medium time frame (platform for longer-term adaptation); What or who needs to adapt? How, and roles and responsibilities (institutional dimension)? Who pays and who benefits? Question of public v private. No robust indicators for adaptive capacity.

RMIT University©2010 CCAP, Global Cities Institute Challenges (2) Importance of local participatory processes both for risk assessment and adaptation planning; Local narratives – adaptation as a value laden process (ethnic and cultural dimensions); The urbanisation process and implications for adaptation; Difficult to separate out climate from human influences (complex socio-ecological linkages); Climate compatibility v urban liveability? Communication of risks and adaptation.

Thank you for your attention