Climate change adaptation knowledge for South AustraliaWhat is NCCARF?

The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility is a unique venture established by the Australian Government in 2008 to harness and coordinate the capabilities of Australia’s researchers, to generate and communicate the knowledge decision-makers need for successful adaptation to climate change. NCCARF fulfils its mission by:

• Building capacity in research and end user communities, principally through its eight thematic Adaptation Research Networks;

• Generating knowledge for adaptation through its research programs;

• Effectively delivering knowledge through the NCCARF annual conference, workshops and master classes, reports, policy briefs and information sheets, the website and social media.

Research Portfolio Factsheet 13: South Australia

South Australian Network partners include:• Human Health: Sansom Institute, University South Australia• Marine Biodiversity and Resouces: South Australian Research and Develop-

ment Institute; University of Adelaide.• Primary Industries: South Australian Research and Development Institute;

University of Adelaide• Settlements and Infrastructure: University of Adelaide; University of South

Australia• Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity: University of Adelaide; SA Water;

South Australian Research and Development Institute• Terrestrial Biodiversity: University of Adelaide.

Collectively the Networks have provided over $30,000 in travel and research grants for students and early career researchers in South Australia: • Martin Breed, University of Adelaide: Restoration genetics in Murray Mallee

and Neotropical Forests: implications for management and planning• Scott Groom, Flinders University: Pollination by native bees in the face of habi-

tat fragmentation and climate change• Erinn Kelly, University of Adelaide: The politics of marine protected areas in

South Australia: A critical analysis of the establishment of MPAs• Janelle Alberston: Do low nutrients from low inflows constrain metabolism in

the lower River Murray?• Brooke Howell: Climate related impacts on Shiraz grapes

Recent Network events in South Australia: • Workshop: Health challenges of climate change• Workshop: Focussed strategy meeting of marine stakeholders• Roadshow: Terrestrial biodiversity and climate change adaptation in South

Australia - management and policy• Forum: 4th National Workshop for Early Career Researchers• Masterclass: Climate change adaptation in a water constrained world

NCCARF Adaptation Research Networks in South Australia NCCARF’s eight thematic Adaptation Research Networks are a community of researchers and practitioners, working together to progress climate change adaptation knowledge. Established in 2008, there are eight Networks representing various themes. Each Network is convened at an Australian research institution, chosen through a competitive bidding process. In under four years, they have made a significant and growing contribution towards the advancement of climate change adapta-tion knowledge across the nation. With over 5000 members, the Networks communicate with researchers and research end users in government and vulnerable communities effectively and rapidly.

In order to run activities nationally, Networks have partners across Australia. Network partners provide in-kind support for Network activities and often receive support from the Network hub to run regional events and activities.

PrincipalInvestigator Institution

Final report availability1,2

NCCARF RESEARCH IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Learning from regional climate analogues Jon Kellett University of South Australia 31-Oct-2011

Development of tools that allow local governments to translate climate change impacts on assets into strategic and operational financial and asset management plans

Jacqueline Balston

University of South Australia 30-Sep-2012

A framework for adaptation of Australian households to heat waves Wasim Saman

University of South Australia 31-Mar-2013

Adapted future landscapes – from aspiration to implementation Wayne Meyer University of Adelaide 31-Mar-2013

Water trade, climate change and irrigator adaptability in the Murray-Darling Basin Sarah Wheeler

University of South Australia 31-Mar-2013

Australia’s country towns 2050: What will a climate adapted settlement pattern look like? Andrew Beer Flinders

University 31-Mar-2013

Cognitive and affective barriers to climate change adaptation: Exploring the risk and adaptation appraisals of South Australians to different climate risks Peng Bi University of

Adelaide 31-Mar-2013

Extreme heat and climate change: Adaptation in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities Peng Bi University of

Adelaide 31-Mar-2013

Impact of climate change on disadvantaged groups: Issues and interventions Graeme Hugo

University of Adelaide 31-Mar-2013

Community based adaptation to climate change: the Arabunna, South Australia Melissa Nursey-Bray

University of Adelaide 31-May-2013

NCCARF RESEARCH RELATING TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Impacts and adaptation response of infrastructure and communities to heatwaves: the southern Australian experience of 2009 Jim Reeves

Queensland University of Technology

30-Jun-2010

Climate change adaptation in the Coorong and Lower Lakes Catherine Gross

Charles Sturt University 31-Dec-2011

Adaptation and mitigation: Identifying low risk climate change mitigation and adaptation in catchment management while avoiding unintended consequences

Max Finlayson

Charles Sturt University 28-Mar-2013

EverFarm® - Design of climate adapted perennial-based farming systems for dryland agriculture in southern Australia Amir Abadi Future Farm

Industries CRC 31-Mar-2013

Novel methods for managing freshwater refuges against climate change in southern Australia

Belinda Robson

Murdoch University 31-Mar-2013

Supporting evidence-based adaptation decision-making in Australia's States & Territories: Synthesis and learning from research to date

Jennifer Cane AECOM 30-Apr-2013

Understanding urban and peri-urban Indigenous people's vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate change

DarrylLow Choy Griffith University 31-May-2013

1Completed final reports are available for download at www.nccarf.edu.au2Availability dates are estimated using draft report due dates and time for the review process

Projects in NCCARF’s research programs delivering useful results for South Australia The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility manages two research areas, the Adaptation Research Grants Program (ARGP) and the Synthesis and Integrative Research Program (SIRP). Together, these seek to address knowledge gaps and deliver the information decision-makers need to successfully adapt Australia to climate change.

The thematic ARGP, with a $36 million budget (including cash leveraging) and 96 projects, addresses knowledge gaps identified in National Adaptation Research Plans (NARPs). There are programs in terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity, primary industries, human health, emergency management, settlements and infrastructure, the social, institutional and economic dimensions of climate change, and Indigenous communities and adaptation.

The SIRP, with a $6 million budget and 40 projects, builds on existing research to directly address knowledge needs of practitioners. The SIRP synthesises across thematic topics and integrates NCCARF learnings with the wider field of adaptation research to deliver timely and specific information tailored to the needs of practitioners. These practitioners are engaged in projects at all stages of development, implementation and delivery.

Research projects in the ARGP and SIRP can be clustered to address the needs of particular locations and critical adaptation challenges. NCCARF is producing a series of fact sheets to show where information can be found in NCCARF’s research programs to support decision-making and policy development to address critical adaptation challenges.

This fact sheet outlines $3 million of NCCARF research addressing the challenges of adaptation in South Australia.

Learning from regional climate analoguesJon Kellett, University of South AustraliaThis project explores the potential of learning from experience for selected target cities by studying cities that currently experience climate conditions similar to those predicted for the target cities. It focuses on developing relationships between paired climate target /climate analogue locations to share experiences and knowledge.

Development of tools that allow local governments to translate climate change impacts on assets into strategic and operational financial and asset management plansJacqueline Balston, University of South AustraliaThis project aims to identify key council assets vulnerable to climate change; determine the likely impacts of climate change on council assets; undertake an extensive financial risk modelling exercise including full life-cycle economic analysis of options for councils to reduce climate change asset risk, and develop the necessary modifications to asset management and financial sustainability tools so councils may evaluate climate change action scenarios at the management planning level.

A framework for adaptation of Australian households to heat wavesWasim Saman, University of South Australia What is the likely impact of heat waves on Australian homes and on the electricity infrastructure in Australia’s various climate regions? This project will plan for a national framework that would: develop new summer design conditions for 2030 and 2050 for up to 100 Australian climate zones; establish new thermal comfort criteria for buildings; evaluate the impact of climate change on annual household cooling energy use and peak power demand; examine householder behaviour during heat waves; develop design options to ensure safety and comfort during heat waves, and develop affordable new design options for buildings to avoid heat stress.

Adapted future landscapes – from aspiration to implementationWayne Meyer, University of AdelaideRegional adaptation to climate, market and social changes is possible by changing what we do where on the land. Both productivity and conservation goals can be achieved by farming to land capability, changing land use to capitalise on the emerging carbon market and identifying land use practices that provide a mosaic of production and conservation uses. This project will work with two regions in South Australia to develop an experimental process that uses future land use projections to assess different policy and guidance incentives. If the experimental process is successful, it could be adopted for land use planning in other regions in Australia.

Water trade, climate change and irrigator adaptability in the Murray-Darling BasinSarah Wheeler, University of South AustraliaWater markets have been increasingly adopted by irrigators as a tool to manage water scarcity, but there is still much to learn about the relationship between water markets and farm and community viability and resilience. This project aims to understand more fully the relationship between water markets, irrigators’ adaptability, climate change and water reallocation. It will: review the ecological, social and economic consequences of water markets; explore how irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin use water trading to cope with reduced water allocations, investigate irrigator behaviour in water markets in the region under changing future climates and

recommend ways to make water markets more efficient and effective.

Australia’s country towns 2050: what will a climate adapted settlement pattern look like?Andrew Beer, Flinders University The project will test the hypothesis that many inland rural and remote communities are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and that this vulnerability varies by location, industry structure, environment, and remoteness. It will assess whether public sector and community planning and action can reduce the impacts of climate change on the sustainability of settlements and whether some forms of intervention will be more effective than others.

Cognitive and affective barriers to climate change adaptation: Exploring the risk and adaptation appraisals of South Australians to different climate risksPeng Bi, University of AdelaideClimate change presents different risks to Australian communities, depending on their geographic location. Individuals and communities will need to modify their lifestyle and behaviours to adapt to the changing climate. This study will survey people about their views and beliefs about climate risks – specifically heatwaves and water shortages - and examine how these influence their behaviour. The findings from this study will be used to plan more effective communication of climate risks and adaptation options.

Extreme heat and climate change: Adaptation in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities Peng Bi, University of Adelaide Do cultural, socio‐economic and language factors affect a person’s vulnerability to climate change? This project will study culturally diverse communities in three Australian cities: Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to identify factors that may affect people’s vulnerability to climate change, and particularly hot weather. It will identify groups of people that may be more vulnerable, explore the behaviour they use to adapt to extreme heat, and their perceptions of climate change and recommend ways to increase their capacity to adapt, such as cross‐cultural information materials.

Impact of climate change on disadvantaged groups: Issues and interventionsGraeme Hugo, University of Adelaide There is growing international concern that the negative impacts of climate change will be disproportionately experienced by the most socially and economically disadvantaged people in society. This project will investigate links between disadvantage and the potential effects of climate change, and what can be done to counteract these impacts. It will focus on three South Australian cities, Port Adelaide (urban coastal), Renmark (rural Riverland) and Wallaroo (rural coastal), which have disadvantaged communities and are expected to experience significant

NCCARF RESEARCH IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

climate change in the next half century.

Community based adaptation to climate change: the Arabunna, South AustraliaMelissa Nursey-Bray, University of AdelaideLake Eyre Basin Traditional Owners will be the first Aboriginal people in Australia to develop culturally appropriate assessments of their risks and vulnerabilities to climate change. The Arabunna people from the Lake Eyre Basin live in a vast region covering one fifth of the Australian continent making this assessment important for them and the wider Australian population. This project will assess the risks and vulnerabilities the Arabunna culture faces from climate change and produce an adaptation strategy to provide practical actions they can take. The outcomes from this project will have significance for the Arabunna, all levels of government and different stakeholders in the Lake Eyre Basin, providing insights into how to identify risk and then adapt to the impacts of climate change over time.

Impacts and adaptation response of infrastructure and communities to heat waves - the southern Australian experience of 2009Jim Reeves, Queensland University of Technology

This study details the impact, vulnerability and adaptation responses, at state and local

government level, to the unprecedented heatwave that struck Victoria and South Australia in early 2009. It focused on the failures in utilities and related infrastructure, and on emergency management and human health impacts. It analyses institutional

responses and identifies lessons learnt for sectors, regions and communities.

Climate change adaptation in the Coorong and Lower LakesCatherine Gross, Charles Sturt UniversityThis project identifies and documents limits to adaptation and adaptation pathways for the Coorong Wetlands. It determines the extent to which acceptable substitutes can be found for things that are lost because of climate change. The research uses participatory approaches to ensure local knowledge, perspectives and information take their place alongside scientific knowledge when examining limits to adaptation and adaptation pathways. In this manner the project provides substantial support for capacity building and exchange of knowledge between community-based and technical organisations.

Adaptation and mitigation: Identifying low risk climate change mitigation and adaptation in catchment management while avoiding unintended consequencesMax Finlayson, Charles Sturt UniversitySome climate change adaptation and mitigation measures proposed for water resources can be considered ‘maladaptation’ as they may have negative or unintended consequences for other elements of the catchment. This project will focus on three catchments in the Murray Darling Basin and examine the practicalities of a range of complementary measures for managing rivers and wetlands that have the potential to enhance the resilience of catchments to bio-physical and economic impacts. It will deliver a plain-English guide to the risks, costs and benefit of different mitigation and adaptation options for southern

Australian rivers.

Everfarm - Design of climate adapted perennial-based farming systems for dryland agriculture in southern Australia Amir Abadi, Future Farming Industries CRCExpected higher temperatures and reduced rainfall are likely to reduce crop yields and livestock productivity in Australia unless we develop alternative farming techniques. This project will look at the benefits of integrating perennial plants such as mallee eucalypts into dryland agriculture. Researchers will work with farmers to model the economic feasibility of adopting these new techniques on a large-scale.

Novel methods for managing freshwater refuges against climate change in southern AustraliaBelinda Robson, Murdoch UniversityFreshwater refuges are areas that provide important safe habitat for aquatic animals and plants. This project aims to determine which methods for managing refuges are most effective as part of a climate change adaptation strategy for freshwater biodiversity. Researchers will evaluate the usefulness of each method to provide knowledge that environmental managers can incorporate into climate change adaptation strategies.

Supporting evidence-based adaptation decision-making in Australia’s States & Territories: Synthesis and learning from research to dateJennifer Cane, AECOMThis final NCCARF project will produce eight reports, one for each state and territory, targeting policymakers and drawing together state-of-the-art adaptation knowledge generated by the NCCARF research programs and more widely. The reports will be presented as adaptation handbooks for decision- and policy-makers, outlining the key challenges of climate change in each state and territory, and strategies to address these challenges through adaptation.

Understanding urban and peri-urban Indigenous people’s vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate changeDaryl Low Choy, Griffith UniversityThe challenges facing coastal communities in Australia are potentially immense, and while community and stakeholders generally accept that change is occurring, the degree of change remains disputed, and the visual picture of what settlements might have to adapt to and address is unclear. Using case study areas in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, this project will investigate the long-accumulated knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous community regarding the challenges of climate change for coastal communities.

Other fact sheets in this series cover: Local CouncilsCoastal ManagementWater ResourcesInfrastructureAgricultureVulnerable CommunitiesEmergency ManagementBusiness and IndustryPolicy and Regulation for Effective AdaptationDecision Support ToolsNatural Ecosystems Research Investment in States and Territories

For more information on NCCARF research, visit:www.nccarf.edu.au

Image Credits: M Kuhn, Les Haines, Peter Hindmarsh, Adriano J. Rotolo, Danny Tan, Rotuli, Dave Sag

RESEARCH RELATING TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA