The City of Sydney Council has released for public exhibition its draft long-term climate change adaptation strategy - and it may be the best of its kind to date.
The draft strategy, called Adapting for Climate Change – was developed with political support and resource that staff in most other local councils can only dream about. Over 90 councils around Australia have already developed and adopted climate change adaptation plans, but the City of Sydney strategy raises the standard to a new height.
The draft strategy was launched by Lord Mayor Clover Moore last Thursday 13 August 2015 at a Town Hall ceremony hosted by Mara Bun, CEO of Green Cross Australia.
Adapting for Climate Change builds upon a strong base of existing actions. It aims to improve the resilience of systems and structures, and prepare the City of Sydney, its people and businesses to adapt to the changing climate. Key features of its development are:
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a science reference group - comprising CSIRO, BoM, university and agency representatives - which reviewed the work and determined that it aligns with best practice global, national and state climate science and adaptation planning
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use of fine-scale NARCLIM climate change projections – down to 10 km resolution
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risk assessment by consultants RPS and KPMG, including consideration of combined risks and cascading impacts
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engagement with 37 external stakeholders from business, government, utilities,
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emergency services and not-for-profit sectors;
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a Citizens’ Panel held over two full days with 23 residents of the City of Sydney
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risk workshops and other activities with all relevant City business units
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engagement with other cities through the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group - a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change.
The strategy found that the greatest climate change impacts on the City of Sydney will be:
The City of Sydney already does many activities that help with climate change adaptation - such as drought proofing parks, emergency management, water and energy efficiency, social sustainability programs, flood management and outdoor working conditions. Future decisions will need to take into account the timeframes and likely impacts of climate change, especially in relation to planning and infrastructure, emergency management, community services, communications and engagement.
Adapting for Climate Change identifies new priorities as pathways for the City and other organisations to implement between now and 2070. The actions clearly outline where the City has a primary role or where other organisations are best suited to lead. Many climate impacts will occur over a longer timeframe than is typically used in government decision making. Accordingly, the action pathways are defined in short (2015-2030), medium (2030-2050), and long (2050-2070) timeframes.
Some of the main short-term actions are:
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maintaining existing policies and programs which are assisting in adaptation;
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developing a heat wave response plan aligned with NSW Heatwave Sub Plan
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continuing flood management practices
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working with emergency services to coordinate responses
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protecting Council property and infrastructure from extreme events
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raising awareness on heatwaves, air pollution and other climate events
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assessing infrastructure vulnerability (energy, transport and communications)
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developing a sea level rise adaptation action plan.
Adapting for Climate Change aims to communicate a staged approach that the City of Sydney intends to pursue - in collaboration with its community, other levels of government and the private and not-for-profit sector - to adapt to the challenges of climate change.
The draft strategy is on public exhibition until October. Comments and suggestions are invited. It can be accessed here, then open the report at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__.../150803_EC_ITEM07_ ATTACHMENTA.PDF.
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/find?q=adapting%20for%20climate%20change