AdaptNet for 15 December 2009

Notice

This is the last issue for 2009. AdaptNet will resume in late January 2010. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest, encouraging feedback and support throughout 2009. You are one of over 1,000 subscribers to AdaptNet in fifty countries. Therefore, we would appreciate your feedback on how AdaptNet is currently being used and how it might be improved in future. You can send comments to us; mailto: adaptnet@rmit.edu.au

1. NCCARF Plan – Social, Economic and Institutional Adaptation
2. 100-years of Australian Bushfire Property Losses
3. Asian Post-2012 Climate Regime – Role of Private Sector
4. Transport Sector Emissions: Underlying Factors and Policy Options
5. Who Drives DRR and CCA? Examples from the Pacific
6. Conferences: Innovative Community Building – Sydney, Australia 
   

NCCARF Plan – Social, Economic and Institutional Adaptation             

This draft plan identifies the research required to help Australian governments, organisations and communities better understand the social, economic and institutional dimensions of effective climate adaptation responses. It outlines priority areas for research that can better inform decisions about adaptation to ensure effective, efficient, and equitable outcomes. Comments on the draft plan may be submitted by 20 January 2010.  

NCCARF National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan: Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions – Consultation Draft, Jon Barnett et al., National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), Australia, November 2009 [229 KB, PDF]  

100-years of Australian Bushfire Property Losses   

The paper extends previous efforts to estimate the risk to the built environment from bushfires in Australia. It finds that the annual probability of building destruction has remained almost constant over the last century despite large demographic and social changes as well as improvements in fire fighting techniques and resources in Australia. 

100-years of Australian Bushfire Property Losses: Is the Risk Significant and is it Increasing? John McAneney, Keping Chen and Andy Pitman, Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 2819-2822, Elsevier Ltd, 2009 [subscription required]  

Asian Post-2012 Climate Regime – Role of Private Sector

The paper explores the current state of and future outlook for mobilizing private sector resources (financial, technological & organizational) toward addressing the Asian post-2012 climate regime. It addresses various issues in the context of designing a new triple bottom line (economic, social, and environmental) strategy of financing climate adaptation and mitigation action in Asia.  

Mobilizing Private Sector Resources toward Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Action in Asia, Jacob Park, Fifth Urban Research Symposium, France, 2009 [477 KB, PDF] 

Transport Sector Emissions: Underlying Factors and Policy Options     

This study examines CO2 emission trends and potential factors driving transport sector CO2 emission growth (fuel switching, model shifting, per capita economic growth, population growth etc.) over the last 25 years in 12 countries of Asia. It reviews existing government policies to limit CO2 emissions growth, particularly various fiscal and regulatory policy instruments. The study helps formulating any climate change strategies in the region.  

Why Have CO2 Emissions Increased in the Transport Sector in Asia? Underlying Factors and Policy Options, Govinda R. Timilsina and Ashish Shrestha, Policy Research Working Paper 5098, Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group, The World Bank, September 2009 [740 KB, PDF]  

Who Drives DRR and CCA? Examples from the Pacific

The paper investigates how community based disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) approaches are becoming more common in Pacific Island countries. It uses case studies from Fiji and Samoa. The paper draws conclusions as to how local culture, communities and global development agencies forge relationships in the field of DRR and CCA.  

How Local Communities and Global Development Agencies Reduce Vulnerability to Natural Disasters and Climate Change: Examples from the Pacific, Anna Gero, Kirstie Meheux and Dale Dominey-Howes, Natural Hazards Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2009 [995 KB, PDF]

Conferences: Innovative Community Building – Sydney, Australia  

These combined conferences (5th International Civil Engineering Conference-CECAR5 and the Australasian Structural Engineering Conference-ASEC 2010) will take place in Sydney from 8-12 August 2010. The overall theme for these conferences is ‘innovative community building’. Conferences will cover many topics, including: climate change and coastal management. Abstracts may be submitted by 5 February 2010.  

5th International Civil Engineering Conference-CECAR5 and the Australasian Structural Engineering Conference-ASEC 2010, Engineers Australia, Sydney, Australia, August 8-12, 2010