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A Knowledge Strategy for climate change impacts and adaptation in New South Wales Chris Lee , Angela McCormack, Matthew Riley, Pete Smith*, Jo White, Kate Wilson NSW OEH, * Macquarie University NCCARF – Climate Adaptation 2014 – Future Challenges

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A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers

Plato

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See: http://www.2021.nsw.gov.au/environment-communities

Goal – NSW 2021

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See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/knowledgestrategy/index.htm

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Define goals, ask questions, audit & identify critical needs

Plan & set priorities

Take action

Monitor, evaluate & improve

Process

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Ask questions

From: OEH Impacts and Adaptation Team

Prof. Andy Pitman, UNSW A/Prof. Ron Cox, UNSW Mr Barry Hanstrum, BoM Prof. Lesley Hughes, Macquarie A/Prof. Ian Goodwin, Macquarie Prof Garry Willgoose, Uni Newcastle Prof. Ross Bradstock, Uni Wollongong Prof. Stephen Leeder, Sydney Uni Prof. John McAneney, Macquarie Prof. Deidre LeMerle, Charles Sturt Uni Dr Helen Cleugh, CSIRO

Martijn Wilder, Baker & McKenzie Maria Atkinson, Consultancy Greg Bourne, Australian Renewable Energy Agency John Connor, The Climate Institute Diana Gibbs, Murray Darling Basin Authority Sam Mostyn, University of Sydney Comm. Greg Mullins, NSW Fire & Rescue Paul Orton, NSW Business Chamber Prof. Andy Pitman, UNSW Adam Spencer, Broadcaster, Community Rep Dr Lorraine Stephenson, Consultancy Tanya Cox, Green Building Council of Australia Jonathan Jutsen, Energetics

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Ask questions

Climate Change I&A Knowledge Strategy

Climate Change Adaptation SOG

Community, business, NGOs – workshops

NSW Climate Change Council

NSW CC Science Research Network

Agriculture NSW, NSW Health, Dept. Planning, Treasury, DPC, Transport NSW, Crown Lands, Public Works, NSW Office of Water, Sydney Water, Police & Emergency Services, Industry & Investment

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Ask questions

From: OEH Impacts and Adaptation Team

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Plan and prioritise 1 July: updated Strategic Plan and annual Implementation Plan implemented for each theme July - August: 12-month review for each theme

May- August

October-November Steering Committees review and report on progress and consider emerging priorities

Steering Committees update the plans for the coming financial year

Draft updated plans presented to Env. & Heritage Cluster Science Committee for endorsement

March

November-March

OEH Knowledge

Strategy Annual

cycle

10 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/knowledgestrategy/ClimateChange.htm

• Program 1: Climate systems - Past climate, current climate, future

climate, extreme events

• Program 2: Socio-economic and biophysical responses

- State-wide social scan

- Coastal & marine systems, rivers & freshwater, terrestrial biodiversity, soil & land systems, human settlement

• Program 3: Sectoral and regional risks

- Emergency services, social profiles, integrated regional vulnerability assessments

• Program 4: Adaptive capacity

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See: Ref: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2001, Logic Model Development Guide, Using Logic Models to Bring Together Planning, Evaluation & Action

Program logic

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See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/knowledgestrategy/ClimateChange.htm

Measures of Success

• That the community and government and business decision makers understand the present climate of NSW, how the climate has changed in the past and how it is likely to change in the future.

• That information is available to adequately assess the risks from climate change to human health, society and the environment.

• That climate change risks are well understood across the community and business sectors and become a routine component of corporate and government planning decisions.

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See: Ref: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2001, Logic Model Development Guide, Using Logic Models to Bring Together Planning, Evaluation & Action

Program logic

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See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/knowledgestrategy/ClimateChange.htm

Desired Outcomes • Maximise the benefit of investment in science and expertise, and

develop the knowledge base that underpins climate change adaptation programs

• Establish a climate ‘baseline’ for NSW and develop both regional and fine-scale projections of climate change, to measure and project the impacts of climate change

• Build the capacity of local and regional decision-makers to understand and adapt to the impacts of climate change

• Enable all sectors and NSW Government agencies to assess and evaluate climate change impacts and the need for adaptation

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See: Ref: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2001, Logic Model Development Guide, Using Logic Models to Bring Together Planning, Evaluation & Action

Program logic

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Understand climate systems

• NSW & ACT Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM)

• Eastern seaboard climate change initiative – East coast lows (ESCCI-ECL)

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NSW Adaptation Research Hub

• NSW Government investment $2.75m over 3 years, matched funding from node partners more than $6m in research activity

Program outcomes

Changed attitudes, skills or knowledge

Target group is exposed to the information

Information is organised in accessible form

Changed behaviour

Appropriate information is available

Outcomes hierarchy

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Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance Confucius Thank you! Matthew Riley Matt.Riley@environment.nsw.gov.au