The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is working to help the State adapt to climate change, with the release of seven action plans and a report on building climate change resilience.
Unveiling the raft of publications, DELWP said its Building Victoria’s Climate Resilience Report outlined the State’s current adaptation actions and next steps and was guided by the adaptation priorities of Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy and a five-yearly planning framework established under the Climate Change Act 2017.
“Reducing our emissions will help lessen the impact of climate change, but it will not prevent it,” DELWP said.
“Some degree of climate change is already locked in and we need to be prepared,” it said.
“Adapting to climate change now will reduce future costs and ensure Victoria’s long-term prosperity.”
DELWP said its Adaptation Action Plans had been prepared for seven essential systems that were vulnerable to climate impacts or were critical to the State’s climate resilience.
The Department said this first set of Adaptation Action Plans would guide Government action and help institutions, businesses and individuals to respond to the changing climate.
It said the Plans were to be updated every five years on the path to reducing Victoria’s emissions to net zero by 2050.
The Department said Adaptation Plans had been developed for built environment; education and training; health and human services; natural environment; primary production; transport; and water cycle.
It said each of the seven Plans set out the unique challenges and opportunities of climate change for each system; the action being taken; and adaptation priorities for the next five years.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the Plans provided an evidence-based, system-wide guide to adaptation efforts.
“They include 127 actions to ensure public assets including schools and transport can better withstand and cope with climate change,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“The actions include adjusting Government policies, operations and decisions; supporting Aboriginal self-determination; helping partners, industries and communities make climate-ready decisions; and building new skills and exploring new technologies to help Victoria prosper in a changing climate,” she said.
DELWP’s 43-page Building Victoria’s Climate Resilience Report can be accessed at this PS News link and its seven Adaptation Action Plans at this link.
