Knowledge Partners

National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF): Adaptation Research Network - Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions

MSSI hosts a key project of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility: Adaptation Research Network - Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions

The Adaptation Research Network for Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions of climate change is hosted by the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute at the University of Melbourne.

The Network Convenor, Dr Jon Barnett is an Australian Research Council Senior Research Fellow located in the Department of Resource Management and Geography at Melbourne University. He is also the Climate Change research theme leader at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute. The Adaptation Research Network for Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions of climate change will bring together researchers and stakeholders with an interest in cross-cutting analysis of issues such as methods for understanding whole of economy impacts of climate change, the effect of social and economic trends on vulnerability to climate change, understanding and developing adaptation strategies for vulnerable communities, particularly indigenous and remote communities, and institutional challenges in adapting to climate change.

If you would like to participate in this Adaptation Research Network, please contact: Dr Jon Barnett on 03 8344 0819 or email jbarn@unimelb.edu.au, or Marie Waschka (NCCARF) on 07 5552 7735 or email m.waschka@griffith.edu.au.

The Adaptation Research Network for Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions of climate change will work closely with NCCARF to implement the National Adaptation Research Plan for Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions, which is currently in development.

Click here to download the National Adaptation Research Plan Consultation Draft.

For further information, and progress updates for the development of this Plan, visit the Social, Economic and Institutional dimensions homepage or visit the NCCARF website.
Click here to download the NCCARF-SEI December 2009 Newsletter.

2010 International Climate Change Adaptation Conference
Climate Adaptation Futures
Preparing for the unavoidable impacts of climate change
29 June - 1 July 2010
Gold Coast Convention Centre, GOld Coast, Queensland. Australia

Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR)

MSSI also hosts the State-funded Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research. The Victorian State Government has recognised the need for additional investment to address key knowledge gaps in relation to adaptation challenges – specifically the need for the consideration of the social and economic aspects of adapting to a changing climate and natural environment.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment 2008-2011 Corporate Plan, under the strategic priority of 'Adapting effectively to the impacts of climate change', reinforced the need for the development of VCCCAR as an important part of improving our understanding of climate change impacts. Accordingly, $5M ($1M per year for 5 years) has been allocated to support the development of the Centre.

The University of Melbourne co-ordinates the Centre through MSSI with three other initial university partners involved: Monash University, La Trobe University, and RMIT University. The Centre therefore brings together expertise from Victorian universities to identify future risks, reduce uncertainties and analyse options for adapting to climate change.

"Adapting to climate change does not mean we give up on efforts to reduce carbon emissions. However, it is likely that a certain amount of warming is already 'locked-in' to the climate system and adaptation means effectively responding to those unavoidable climate change impacts," - VCCCAR Director, Professor Rod Keenan

The specific objectives of the centre are to:

increase State Government decision-making capacity about Victorian specific climate change impacts
encourage the inclusion of adaption needs into government strategic planning
bring together expertise to work on the provision of multi-disciplinary advice to government, industry and the community
expand funding for the Centre’s research program from other organisations, including the Commonwealth Government

Proposed Centre activities include:

holding an annual forum to showcase research
creating regional think tanks
instituting a research grants project to complement the national adaptation effort
establishing a visiting fellowship program to draw on international expertise

For further information and progress updates visit the VCCCAR website.

Video of the recent VCCCAR Annual Forum can be viewed here at Live @ Melbourne.

Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC)

The Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC) has been established by the foundation partners, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the University of Melbourne.

The Centre aims to generate and exchange knowledge to build capacity for climate-resilient, sustainable and productive agricultural systems, landscapes and communities. It will address production, environmental and social RDE (and policy input) associated with agricultural industries at both the enterprise and landscape level. This includes production research, integrated landscape management, capability/capacity building and policy research and advice. The Centre will initially focus on Victoria because of the Foundation Partners but will have national relevance.

The Centre will manage the national Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI) and the Primary Industries Adaptation Research Network (PIARN) initiatives.

Website: http://www.piccc.org.au/