This study takes an interior arid-zone region as a pilot study in which to investigate, document and generate planning principles concerning Aboriginal perceptions and knowledge of climate change, and regional community capacity to respond and adapt to climate change at a number of levels, specifically preparedness for both changes in the mean climate, and changes in the frequency and intensity of extremes, land and riverine management, settlement infrastructure adaptation and enterprise-building responses.

Aims

This study will generate a baseline dataset on Aboriginal risk perceptions and understandings (including culturally-specific assumptions and meaning systems) that will be useful for future longitudinal monitoring; and will produce four inter-related module reports on the current state of corporations to respond to climate change by providing regional services with respect to:

  • Preparedness for changes in both the mean and extremes
  • Land and riverline management
  • Settlement infrastructure adaptation
  • Enterprise-building responses

These will be consolidated into an Aboriginal Georgina Climate Adapatation Plan. A Policy Bulletin will address the relevance of the findings from the pilot study for other arid zone regions of Aboriginal Australia as well as the regional, state and national policy implications for governments and other key stakeholders.

Project team

  • Professor Paul Memmott (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Associate Professor Joseph Reser (Griffith University) - Project co-leader
  • Professor Brian Head (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Adjunct Associate Professor Colin Saltmere (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Dr James Davidson (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Dr Daphne Nash (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Dr Timothy O’Rourke (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Dr Harshi Gamage (UQ) - Project co-leader
  • Mr Samid Suliman (UQ)
  • Mr Andrew Lowry (UQ)

Project details

Duration: January 2012–January 2013

Partners: The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF)

Funding: NCCARF

Contact: Professor Paul Memmott (p.memmott@uq.edu.au)