Tim Siegenbeek van Heukelom

"The release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan highlight the critical role of research to inform bold decision-making, adaptation and investment to achieve the greatest reductions in risk for Australian communities," says Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO, Andrew Gissing   "Natural hazards are expected to become more frequent, more complex, more intense, more unpredictable and more difficult to manage due to climate change. These natural hazards will place greater demand on disaster management capabilities already under pressure from the rising frequency and severity of disaster impacts – there is urgent need for smart, effective solutions that enhance the safety, resilience and sustainability of Australian communities." Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9Z4YWTb https://lnkd.in/g8ftaXiT

58

1 Comment

Here's a nerdy post for those interested in the push to reform Australia's national environmental laws... Most media, political and environmental advocacy attention has been focused on ways to improve assessment and approval processes for developments so that (hopefully) these have less impact on our environment and don't get in the way of the renewable energy role out. But there's much more to protecting the environment than just mines, fines and transmission lines. To stop extinctions and restore ecological health, Australia needs to also:  1️⃣ Protect and restore threatened species and ecological communities – known as ‘recovery’  2️⃣ Eliminate or reduce the major threats to nature – known as ‘threat abatement’ Recovery gets a lot of attention, but even if recovery processes were optimal, the current fragmented and limited focus on threat abatement within the law and government priorities leads to continuous growth in threatened species lists, ongoing extinctions, landscape degradation and significant economic costs. Reforms of the EPBC Act will fail to stop environmental degradation unless they also significantly strengthen Australia’s capacity to systematically identify, prevent and abate threats to nature - especially invasive species.   That is why the Invasive Species Council is advocating for vital reforms to deal with: ❌ An ad-hoc, nomination-based process for listing Key Threatening Processes (KTPs), leading to a lack of comprehensive identification of both existing and emerging threats to nature. ❌ Live import regulations which are insufficient and often lack clear objectives and standards, leading to the introduction of high-risk invasive species. ❌ Inconsistent post-border regulation of established invasives across states and territories. ❌ Listed threats often lack corresponding abatement plans or policies, and even when plans exist, implementation is often uncoordinated and unaccountable. ❌ There are no robust requirements for monitoring the status of threats or progress in abatement, hindering adaptive management and accountability. Have a read of our briefing note for Minister Murray Watt which goes into detail about the reforms we want to see, including: ✅ Strengthen prevention at the border by reforming the EPBC Act's live import provisions (Part 13A) to (1) Mandate a highly precautionary, risk-averse approach for all live import decisions (2) Extend assessment requirements to fungi, protists, viruses, bacteria, archaeobacteria, not just plants and animals (3) Create a "prohibited list" for unsuitable taxa (4) establish an independent scientific committee to advise on decisions ✅ Enhance Australia's Threat Abatement System by (1) requiring systematic identification and listing (2) enabling flexible response options and action-oriented plans ✅ Establish a nationally consistent, risk-based scheme to regulate the sale and transport of invasive or potentially invasive species within Australia.

59

2 Comments

Want to learn how rural communities can thrive through social innovation? Explore the Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto—co-created by over 100 organisations from over 37 worldwide, stewarded by the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and the ACRE - Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship. Read the full Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto: https://lnkd.in/g9ufXD4X It offers actionable ways policymakers can help rural areas overcome challenges like limited access to education, jobs and technology through the power of social enterprise. Be part of the change! 🌍🌱 #RuralManifesto #SEWF #SocialEnterprise #PolicyChange #RuralDevelopment

52

1 Comment

GBCA welcomes the release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment and the commitment to a National Adaptation Plan. Together, these initiatives will help us better understand the risks we face from climate change and chart a clear path for stronger, bolder action.   From extreme heat and floods to bushfires, drought and rising sea levels, the Assessment shows that Australia is already experiencing compounding hazards rise with profound implications for our infrastructure, communities, supply chains and natural environment. GBCA CEO Davina Rooney said the findings highlight the urgency of embedding resilience in the buildings and communities being planned and built today.   “The evidence is stark – climate impacts are accelerating, and the window to act is rapidly closing. Our buildings are on the frontline of these risks, but they also give us one of the fastest and most cost-effective pathways to adapt. Every dollar invested in resilience now will save many more in avoided damage and disruption,”   At GBCA, we’ve long advocated for a national approach to climate adaptation. This is a strong signal that Australia is serious about building a more resilient, sustainable future.

49

2 Comments