Climate change adaptation

The earth's climate has changed over the last century and there is strong scientific evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50-100 years is due to human activities. Recent research indicates that global greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of human-induced climate change, are continuing to grow rapidly. Climate change has the potential to significantly adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Many Australian sectors are highly vulnerable to climate change.

Responding to climate change requires a dual approach involving:

* management and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation);
* making adjustments to existing activities and practices so that vulnerability to potential impacts associated with climate change can be reduced (adaptation).

These two activities are not mutually exclusive, and should be undertaken simultaneously to effectively respond to climate change.

Given that the impacts of climate change are becoming more marked and evident, NAGA members are working to understand how projected changes in climate will affect their operations and their communities and to develop integrated responses to adapt to the changes already locked into our climate systems.
For more information, go to the links page.