This section provides an assessment of the Region’s current adaptive capacity, based on the results of a health check undertaken for each of the 10 Councils. As noted in Section 4, adaptive capacity relates to the potential to reduce climate vulnerability through the ability to withstand, deflect or recover from damage. The results of the Health Check provided qualitative information to Councils that highlighted aspects of Council-managed activities which impact adaptive capacity. Significant themes of strengths and weaknesses were analysed at the Council and Regional levels and were considered in workshops and in the formulation of recommended projects in Section 9.
Previous work on climate adaptation in councils has identified that the fundamental challenge for councils is to view climate adaptation as core business and a central consideration in their short, medium and long term planning for their community. Whilst concerns about a changing climate and local climate impacts are high on the agenda of many Australian communities there is a need for guidance on embedding climate change adaptation to support local council business processes, procedures, systems and planning. This will assist councils in taking this important step as an integral part of their adaptation efforts. This must cover the whole breadth of activities appropriate for all council functions, services and assets: land use planning, asset management (water and sewerage, waste, road, property and community facilities and open space), natural areas and coastal management, corporate services, etc. This Project supports the application of generated knowledge on how to embed climate adaptation in various aspects of local government business by providing insight on how this can be achieved.
Overall vulnerability
Health check tool
