Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Project

This month the Western Port Greenhouse Alliance - of which we are a member - released a report titled Impacts of Climate Change on Human Settlements in the Western Port region: an Integrated Assessment

The report looks at the potential impacts of climate change in the medium (2030) and long term (2070) outlining likely changes in temperature, rainfall, storm frequency, rising sea level, storm surge and fire weather.

It will include a series of predictions based on climate models. These models couple historically recent increases in CO2 in the atmosphere with observed changes in temperature, rainfall, sea levels and storm frequency. The models then use the expected future increase of CO2 emissions to predict climate conditions.

While predictions made 20 years and 60 years in advance are unlikely to be perfect, these models are based on some of the most advanced science currently available, and as such Council has a responsibility to prepare the municipality to adapt to these predicted changes.

Media Release - Frankston Alliance Tackling Climate Change

Why do we need to adapt to climate change?

Adapt (definition): to make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly

There is now considerable scientific evidence and international acceptance that we are witnessing the impacts of climate change. Temperature, sea level, extreme storms, floods and cyclone and droughts have all increased in the past couple of decades (Stronger Evidence by New Challenges: Climate Change Science 2001-2005).

While reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be vital to limit the impact of climate change in the coming decades, adaptation will be "crucial to deal with the unavoidable impacts of climate change to which the world is already committed." (Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change).

How is Councial adapting?
What can I do?
What other organisations are doing

For further information visit the Western Port Greenhouse Alliance Web site: www.wpga.org.au