Urban and regional planning will be an essential tool in managing theimpacts of climate change, but enhanced coordination of disaster mitigationand management across spheres of government will be essential in boostingnation resilience to predicted climate impacts, the Planning Institute says.

Responding to the most recent report from Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange Report (Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability) Planning Institute of Australia Chief Executive Kirsty Kelly said the climate change impacts now thought to be inevitable made the comingchallenge a question of good governance.

“This report clearly shows that the impacts of climate change are alreadybeing felt around the world, and that we must urgently identify how futureAustralian communities will be affected by these probable changes,” Ms Kelly said.

“National and State leadership in the urban and regional planning space willbe critical.

“All spheres of government must be deeply engaged in decisions about whatimpacts are unacceptable, and in difficult decisions about when to defend, manage or retreat from risks.”

Ms Kelly is also the Chair of Resilience Strategy for the respected peak body the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, which advocates the implementation of its Built Environment Adaptation Framework as a tool for creating a more resilient built environment.Planners and allied groups will approach governments to seek regulatory support, funding forresearch and the development of tools and benchmarks to help make decisionsabout the funding and governance of change in urban and rural areas.

“Major floods and fires over the past five years have demonstrated thecomplexities facing the three levels of government in managing currenthazards,” Ms Kelly said.

“The challenges – and the potential damage – of climate change are too muchfor one sphere of government to manage; without well thought-out plans andstrategies, the impact of disasters like these on households may quicklybecome worse.

“Urban and regional planning can be a powerful tool in create resilientcommunities that can rebound from natural disasters.

“It can also help create robust economies while protecting the naturalenvironment.

“But if decision making is ad hoc and uncoordinated, some communities mayfind they can no longer insure their homes, and governments could spendvastly more on managing their risks, such as on disaster assistance, forexample on repairs and rebuilding damaged property after natural disasters.

“We look forward to working with the Federal Government to explore and thenbuild the planning structures that will protect our communities and restorethem quickly when disaster strikes.”
Planning Institute of Australia Chief Executive Kirsty Kelly