Climate Change Adaptation Framework launched

In response to the impacts of climate change on the built environment, the ASBEC Climate Change Task Group has launched a 10-point framework calling for a stronger role for government to improve the resilience of urban communities against extreme weather events and predicted future climate change.

David Parken, Chair of the Climate Change Task Group and CEO of the Australian Institute of Architects, launched the framework during the BEMP (Built Environment Meets Parliament) 2012 summit in Canberra yesterday.

“The experts agree that climate change is happening and Australia, with its experience of floods, droughts, storms and bushfires, can anticipate an increase in general temperatures and an upsurge in extreme weather events which all have an impact on our buildings and communities,” Parken said.

“While industry and the community have their roles to play, it is government, the manager of Australia’s regulatory and public policy systems, that needs to show leadership. This document outlines effective steps the government can take to protect Australia’s economic and environmental sustainability.”

One of the members of ASBEC is Consult Australia, the association for professional services firms within the built and natural environment. The CEO of Consult Australia, Megan Motto, said that the report marks a crucial first step towards genuine and effective collaboration between government and industry as we adapt our built environment to climate changes already forecast.

“The Australian Government has shown courage in pursuing an aggressive plan to support carbon mitigation, but has not taken the steps necessary to ensure our nation is resilient to future climate change,” said Motto.

“What we need, and what the ASBEC report encourages, is for the government to lead a cross-sector approach to coordinate and prioritise the delivery of adaptation initiatives nationwide.”

Consult Australia has long advocated for the prioritisation and development of an adaptation plan for Australia. The association’s 2011 thought-leadership reports ‘Seizing the Sustainability Advantage’ and ‘Tomorrow’s Cities Today’ both called for a National Adaptation Plan for Action to ensure that the standard of adaptation and protection is sufficient in all areas of Australia.

With an overall replacement cost for Australia’s built environment estimated in excess of $5.7 trillion, the economic, social and environmental risks posed by climate change are significant. ASBEC therefore believes that a framework which recommends a coordinated, well-resourced and nationally consistent suite of policies is essential to support the owners, managers and inhabitants of the built environment - the location of most of our population and the platform for Australia’s economic prosperity - to make their regions resilient to the effects of climate change.

One of the key elements of the framework is the establishment of a National Built Environment Adaptation Council to facilitate consultation between industries, government and communities; sponsor research; and be a driver for change. ASBEC President Tom Roper stated that “by implementing adaptation strategies now, governments and individuals will benefit in the longer term and a central body such as a National Built Environment Adaptation Council would help deliver these changes now and in the future.

“We will be able to minimise the adverse impacts experienced during extreme weather events - including death, displacement, mental distress and disruption to economic and other services.

“Suburbs and buildings are still being designed and created based on past climatic experience when we should be thinking of how they will respond to future climatic events, so we can be resilient in 20, 30, 40 years down the track,” Roper said.

Motto added, “We know the risks to our built environment and we know how to adapt to mitigate those risks. It is time to get on with it.

“We can take preventative action now at a lower cost than that which will be demanded if we take a later and more reactive approach.”

The introduction of the ASBEC Policy Framework follows the abandonment of the government’s Tax Breaks for Green Buildings initiative, and the axing of $15.2 million from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in the 2012-13 Federal Budget.

“Abandoning the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings was a short-sighted decision which completely fails to realise the significant opportunity to reduce emissions through energy-efficiency gains in the buildings sector,” said Motto.

“I hope to see the ASBEC Policy Framework refocus our government’s attention on the substantial opportunities for the built environment to contribute to an effective and long-term response to climate change.”

The Climate Change Adaptation Framework offers a roadmap for government to work with all relevant stakeholder groups. This is intended to facilitate consistent, successful adaptation strategies to be introduced to manage this issue. It can be viewed here.