Adapting to climate change

Despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some level of climate change is now inevitable. Adaptation is a way of taking advantage of the benefits and minimising the costs of climate change. Adaptation complements emission reduction measures and is a necessary part of addressing the climate change challenge. OEH aims to build the resilience of the state's natural environment, economy and communities.

Helping communities adapt

Adapting to climate change involves adjusting policies and operations to help prepare our ecosystems, infrastructure and productive sectors to cope with likely climate change impacts. Adaptation measures aim to minimise the risks and economic costs of adverse impacts and to take advantage of potential benefits.

Adaptation is an essential complement to greenhouse gas abatement measures as some degree of climate change and resulting biophysical impact is now inevitable.

The NSW Government is working through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to:

• define the scope of national reform required by governments to meet the challenge of adapting to climate change
• identify the role of COAG and priority areas for COAG focus
• identify actions that are required within priority areas, including changes to existing policy settings.

For more information see the COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (national_climate_change_adaption_framework.pdf, 328 KB)

Guide to climate change risk assessment for NSW local government

OEH is helping local councils and communities understand and minimise the impacts of climate change with a guide for local government on assessing climate change risks. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for assessing potential climate change risks to local government organisations, assets and services. The guide will also assist eligible councils meet the Waste and Sustainability Improvement Payment Program standards for 2011-2012.

Regional communities and climate change

OEH is working on a cross-government project to assess the vulnerability to climate change of communities in south-east NSW. This project will study the potential climate change impacts on: human health, human settlements, water, agriculture, tourism, major infrastructure, natural landscapes and emergency services. The project aims to provide a sound basis for local climate change adaptation planning and is due to be completed in late 2011.

Infrastructure in a changing climate

Climate change will have significant impacts on infrastructure in NSW. Because of the long life of infrastructure assets, it will be particularly important to incorporate climate change risks into infrastructure planning and management.

In response to this emerging issue, OEH and the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) arranged a forum for NSW infrastructure leaders, Exploring Future Directions for NSW Infrastructure in a Changing Climate.

The focus of the forum was on climate change risk management and adaptation planning for NSW infrastructure. The aim was to bring together infrastructure leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss key climate change issues and challenges for their sectors. The forum was a first step in developing a collaborative approach between the NSW Government and industry in responding to climate change impacts.

OEH has supported the development of AGIC's Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme, in particular the first part which assesses climate change vulnerability. AGIC's Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation (agic_climate_change_adaptation_guideline_for_infrastructure_november_2010.pdf, 683 KB) can be used to help infrastructure designers, engineers and builders to measure and manage vulnerability to future climatic conditions. The guideline applies to all stages of the infrastructure life cycle and can be used in the design, construction and operation of new infrastructure projects and upgrades of existing assets. It will help ensure the state's roads, dams, bridges, water supply and wastewater systems are resilient to the future impacts of climate change.

For more information on AGIC, visit the council's website.

NSW Treasury has prepared economic appraisal guidance on climate change for assets and infrastructure assessments. Climate change is one of many risks that should be taken into account by those responsible for public infrastructure, who are best placed to manage risks based on the best available information. Potential risks to public assets from climate change should be considered in the context of the NSW Treasury guidance framework outlined in the following links:

Economic Appraisal Guidelines – Guidance on climate change for asset and infrastructure assessments NSW TC 10/12

TPP07-5 NSW Government Guidelines for Economic Appraisal

Preparing Sydney for climate change

Sydney is Australia's largest city, with a population of over 4.5 million people. The city's population is forecast to grow to 6 million by 2036, while at the same time, the challenges of climate change are likely to become more apparent. Heatwaves, sea level rise, more intense and frequent bushfires, and more variable rainfall are among the key challenges Sydney will face. The Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 identifies four actions the NSW Government will take to begin addressing the challenge of climate change for Sydney:

• developing a climate change adaptation strategy for Sydney, in collaboration with local councils
• incorporating adaptation to climate change in the review of the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX)
• incorporating green cover initiatives (such as planting street trees) into grant funding programs, particularly in western Sydney
• incorporating climate change adaptation into renewal and design of urban centres.

The focus of this work will initially be on adapting the urban environment of Sydney. However, the new strategies, policies and approaches that will be developed for Sydney could be applied where applicable to other urban and regional centres of NSW. OEH will be working closely with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and local councils in Sydney on these initiatives in 2011.

Minimising the impacts of climate change

Despite the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some level of climate change is now inevitable. NSW 2021 - A plan to make NSW number one includes a commitment from the Government to minimise the impacts of climate change on communities.

To address the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, the NSW Government has developed Priorities for Biodiversity Adaptation to Climate Change.

OEH and the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services are currently developing a NSW Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to coordinate and guide investment and effort in biodiversity conservation in NSW for the next five years.

Managing Sydney's water resources

Balancing greater Sydney's water supply and demand over the long term requires an understanding of climate cycles and trends, as well as the potential impacts of climate change.

As part of the NSW Government's adaptive planning approach, the 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan underwent a major review overseen by the Metropolitan Water Independent Review Panel. The 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan built on the significant achievements of past plans by continuing to concentrate efforts in four major areas: dams, recycling, desalination and water efficiency. More information about the Metropolitan Water Plan can be found on the NSW Government's Water for Life website.