Transcript Document

Climate change and equity in Victoria
– the role of the community sector
Overview
 Economic and social transition
 Assessing climate change vulnerability
 Impacts on low income and
disadvantaged communities
 Potential roles for the community sector
Society in transition
 What we need to do to prevent
catastrophic climate change:
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60-85% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050
 Economic impact – Stern Report (UK),
Garnaut Climate Change Review (Aust)
 In times of rapid social and economic
change, disadvantaged groups are
additionally vulnerable
Projected climate change
impacts in Victoria
 Higher average temperatures, more frequent extremely hot days and heat
spells leading to longer bush fire seasons and potentially more serious fires
 Increased solar radiation due to reduced cloud cover
 Reduced rainfall, greater incidence of drought and greater evaporation
leading to reduced runoff into water catchments
 Greater frequency of flooding in some areas
 Coastal erosion and potentially increased storm surges
 Less snow fall over the alps
Source: Department of Sustainability and Environment Climate
change in Victoria: a summary, Victorian Government, Melbourne, 2006.
Climate change vulnerability
Source: Allen Consulting Group, Climate change risk and vulnerability:
promoting an efficient adaptation response in Australia, Australian
Greenhouse Office, Department of Environment and Heritage, 2005, ix.
Overview of climate change
impacts and equity issues
 Direct and indirect impacts
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Health – heatwaves
Rural communities – economic transitions
and emergency response
Built environment
Essential goods and services
Health - heatwaves
 Increased morbidity and
associated mortality
 Vulnerable groups include the
elderly, especially if isolated,
and people with existing
medical conditions
 Linked to housing quality and
energy costs
Rural communities
 Climate change impacts interacting with
other demographic and economic trends
 Vulnerability associated with ongoing
drought conditions vs ‘exceptional
circumstances’
Rural communities – responding
to emergencies
 Increased risks from bushfires and floods
 Heavy reliance on volunteers and the nongovernment sector to respond to
emergencies
Built environment and extreme
weather
 Link to housing standards and urban
infrastructure
 Limited access to insurance
 Need to protect community facilities
Essential goods and services
 Utilities pricing – access to affordable
water and electricity
 Transport in a carbon constrained future
 Increased cost of food
Role of the community sector
 Preventing climate change and ensuring
sustainability
 Information distribution
 Building social capacity and inclusion
 Supporting inclusive and equitable climate
change policy and research
 Advocating for early and inclusive planning
 Documentation of impacts on low income and
disadvantaged groups