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Adaptation
The National Agriculture and Climate Change Action Plan provides the overarching framework for climate change policy for Australian governments and the agricultural sector. Adaptation is the first of the four strategies and actions in the Action Plan that has been chosen to:
- build resilience into Australian agricultural systems to cope with climate change (Refer to Action Plan Strategy 1.1
PDF [1.2mb]) - complement existing programs to build the capacity of natural resource managers and systems to respond to climatic risks and pressures (Refer to Action Plan Strategy 1.2 PDF [1.2mb])
- manage the negative impacts of climate change on the range of native and foreign invasive species and disease incursions in agricultural forestry and natural resource systems (Refer to Action Plan Strategy 1.3 PDF [1.2mb])
- take advantage of market opportunities that may arise from a changing climate (Refer to Action Plan Strategy 1.4 PDF [1.2mb]).
Some level of climate change is inevitable and adaptation is a necessity if Australian agriculture and forestry is to remain profitable and sustainable. This is particularly pertinent for enterprises such as forestry and irrigation which have long investment cycles. In responding to climate change, adaptation should complement emission mitigation efforts and provide a window of opportunity to adjust resource management practices and support the sustainability of agriculture. Such adjustments could better prepare these sectors to cope with climate change, by increasing the resilience of human and natural systems.
Climate change adds to the complexity of the farming environment which is characterised by uncertainties in markets, resource conditions, technology and changing community values. Fostering adaptation to climate change by agricultural industries entails a mix of innovation and strategy initiated by individuals, communities, businesses and governments. This Action Plan seeks to enhance consideration of climate change risks as a component of mainstream decision making.
Publications on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
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Land and Water Australia includes within its research programs The Managing Climate Variability Program, which was created to focus research investment on important issues of climate variability and climate risk management for agriculture and natural resource management.
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BRS MLA Spatial Toolsets: a new and intuitive web tool for managing climate risk for agricultural production
PDF [1.6mb] – Greg Laughlin | March 2006 -
Science for Decision Makers: Climate change: adaptation for agriculture
PDF [715kb] - A Clark, D Barratt, B Munro, J Sims, G Laughlin & D Poulter | February 2006. This brief outlines strategies that build on the existing capacity of agriculture to adapt to change and provides steps that can be taken now to prepare for and manage the risks and opportunities presented by a changing climate. -
Farming Profitably in A Changing Climate: A Risk-Management Approach
PDF [1mb] - W Steffen, J Sims and J Walcott, in assoc with NRM and AGO | February 2006. Report from the 'Farming Profitably in a Changing Climate’ workshop and future directions to all those interested in helping Australian agriculture continue to be profitable, self-reliant and sustainable. -
Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management A Guide for Business and Government - AGO 2006
