Coastal climate case studies

SUE NEALES
May 08, 2008 02:00pm
TASMANIA has been chosen as the location for one of six national studies investigating the impact of climate change on the Australian coast.The Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong, this morning announced that the effect of climate change on the commercial East Coast rock lobster fishery and its reliant communities would be part of the new $1.2 million study. The six studies form the first stage of a National Coastal Vulnerability Assessment by the Federal Government under its new "Caring for our Coasts’’ policy. Senator Wong said the cases studies would provided information on both the impact and adaptability of coastal areas to climate change, including assessing its socio-economic impact. The studies will look at issues including the impact of climate change on coastal communoties, on commercial fisheries, and on infrastructure in remote oil and gas towns. The five other case study locations include Kakadu national park in the Northern Territory, the Gold Coast, the Pilbara in Western Australia and South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. “This research will examine how these coastal areas are affected by climate change, and will provide valuable knowledge to help us plan for the future,’’ Senator Wong said. ``The Rudd Government recognises the need for us to adapt to the climate change we can’t avoid. The tender document for the new studies is looking for an organisation to conduct the review of the east coast rock lobster fishery. Australian Greens senator and climate change spokesperson Christine Milne recently called for a strategic effort across all levels of government in Australia to conduct detailed climate vulnerability mapping. She also wants to see planning laws brought into line with the ``real world’’, where climate change is already cause for concern. " Australia’s governments at every level are woefully under-prepared for the onset of increasingly serious climate change impacts,’’ Senator Milne said.