Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Melbourne

This assignment delves into the complexities of climate change adaptation in Melbourne, examining the impact of rising temperatures on the city's infrastructure, economy, and residents. It discusses various strategies for mitigating these effects, including decentralization, lifestyle changes, and rebuilding efforts. The study highlights the importance of community involvement and local government support in fostering necessary measurements to overcome climate challenges.

Climate change adaptation
plan

SUMMARY
The climate changes have become a major concern for the entire world. The global
communities are making several efforts to face the major climate changes due to global warming
and other industrial developments. The report has discussed the associated risk factors which can
influence the Port Philip city and its habitants. To minimise the impact of such risks there is need
to develop a well planned climate adaptation strategies so that climate change harms can be
reduced. The report has provided a brief discussion of the climate adaptation plan for Port Philip
city and how the suggested measures can promote the changes in the city. The report summarises
the various cultural changes and their vulnerability in the city at present and their development in
the next few years. The analysis of transformational adaptations are also discussed so that
improvement measures can be applied and their impact can be measured.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Vulnerable climate change impacts in city .................................................................................1
Transformational and incremental adaptations ...........................................................................2
Improvement measures and requirements...................................................................................4
Impact of applied measures.........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Climate change adaptation is defined as the strategic plan to minimise the vulnerability of
climate change impact due to global warming. Thus, the plan will help local communities to
manage the possible hazardous consequences associated with the climate changes. The report
will provide a climate change adaptation plan for Port Philip city council (PPCC). As per the
statistics of 2016, the council has population of 108.472 (Moloney and Fünfgeld, 2015). It was
formed by the merger of Port and South Melbourne and St Kilda and is very rich in beaches and
other art flourishing environment.
Vulnerable climate change impacts in city
For the PPCC the climate changes which can impacts the council as the most significant
by the year 2020 and 2050 are as follows:
Sea level rise: PPCC can witness high changes in terms of sea level rise by the year 2020 and the
risk will become extremely severe by 2100. By the year 2020 sea level will rise by 3-10 cm
which can cause flood and high level displacements.
Temperature changes: Though by the year 2050 temperature increments are moderate but it can
enhance the number of days with maximum temperature of 35 degree Celsius.
Coastal erosion: The significant increase in the sea level can greatly increase the coastal erosion.
The lateral erosion is of two orders greater than sea level increase. It has been predicted that by
2020 PPCC will be at high risk of this impact.
(Source: Planning for climate change, a case study city of Port Phillip. 2006)
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Storm tide and surges: The increased sea level will also cause storm surges and flood events. It
will affect public infrastructure and local establishments near the coastal regions (Appleby, Bell
and Boetto, 2017). It has been predicted that with a rise of 35 cm in sea level storm surge will
increase by 1.65 m.
Rainfall variations: The climatic changes in rainfall has mixed patterns. The dry regions of
PPCC can face moderate reduction in rainfalls while in the other regions the rainfall intensity can
be increased by 5% in the next few years.
Heatwave: Though there is not direct predictions for heatwave but their intensity can be high by
the year 2050. It can increase the danger index of forest fires and thus its duration can be
extended by few months.
(Source:Greater Melbourne, 2019)
Transformational and incremental adaptations
The adaptation measures must assure that they not only manages the high risk events but
also prevents the intensification of the other low risk climate changes. The following high risk
changes affects the residents and building infrastructure living near coastal or sea area. The
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Illustration 1: Rainfall changes in Melbourne

Melbourne residents may also suffer due to loss of their recreational space. The changes will also
influence the water supply and strategic management of the city.
Climate change
impact
Transformational measures Incremental measures
Sea level rise  Existing coastal
infrastructure must be
demolished and more
natural reserves must be
developed.
 Artificial wetlands and
mudflats can lower the sea
level.
 Future traffic planning and
floating buildings must be
considered.
Storm surge Temporary floating houses must
be changed (Finlayson and et.al.,
2017).
 Improvement in the planning
scheme.
 Use of movable gates or
buildings occupied with
mobile steel bulkheads can
protect massive destruction
from flood.
Coastal erosion Coastline retreating Artificial wetlands must be
developed.
Temperature
changes and
heatwave
 Improved construction
techniques can manage
temperature changes.
 Changes in clothing
perception can also help
to deal the issue.
 Forestation must be
increased.
 Concrete areas can be in the
city can be converted with
trees.
 Climate resilient buildings
must be developed.
 Outside working hours must
be reconsidered or reduced.
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Along with these measures for promoting generic resilience following measures can be
incorporated by PPCC. Though energy, water supply and rescue services are not responsibility of
PPCC but for the welfare of the local residents these must also be managed through suitable
measures.
Need for general resilience Transformational measures Incremental measures
Rescue services First aid knowledge must be
provide to community and
emergency services must
provide fast response.
Better education, awareness
and disaster management
plan must be developed.
Re-evaluation of energy
supply and needs
 PPCC must
decentralise its local
development for
lowering the fuel
consumption.
 Resource and energy
wastage must be
minimised.
Alternative or renewable
energy sources must be used
(Hurlimann and Wilson,
2018).
Water supply Water consumption and
wastage must be reduced by
residents of PPCC.
Increase temperature can
cause water scarcity.
Water recycling programs
and storm water collection
must be supported.
Improvement measures and requirements
For improving the climate conditions in PPCC the first measure is to improve the life
style and an improved collaboration between society, state and council. Various approaches can
be used for this purpose (Hobday and et.al., 2018). For instance in top down approach legislative
and coucil authorites can bring law and climate policies for improving the condition. Contrary to
this for PPCC bottom down approach is more suitable as in this approach local citizens must act
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actively and understands the need of climate adaptation programs. Their efforts can force city
council to apply above discussed measures. The council can then also pressurise the state and
federal government to provide necessary support and resources (Mintrom and Luetjens, 2017).
The lack of resources and mismanagement of council policies can also affect the climate policies
thus the council must also focus on improving environmental conditions of the PPCC.
Impact of applied measures
The adopted measurements can have both positive and negative effects on climate and
communities of PPCC. For instance the decentralisation will have positive impact on the
behaviour and mental health of local communities. However, with this approach key centres of
Melbourne may lose its economic power and prices may get high. Similarly the change in life
style will provide quick mitigation but they also have negative impact that economic changes can
enhance the risk of social wars. The life style changes will also limit the product and income
which is not good for the local people. The rebuilding or reconstruction activities will help city
to develop more recreation spaces and city which is compatible with the flood, energy
requirements and other climate change (Barnett and et.al., 2015). However, it also has adverse
effect that heritage loss can become a significant issue for the city and some of its residents.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the study that city council can foster necessary measurements to
overcome the climate challenges and their impact. However, this requires the resource
availability, internal management issues of the council and the role of local communities. Thus,
the climate challenges can be deal with the legislative, government and local community support
through bottom up approach.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Appleby, K., Bell, K. and Boetto, H., 2017. Climate change adaptation: Community action,
disadvantaged groups and practice implications for social work. Australian Social
Work. 70(1). pp.78-91.
Barnett, J. and et.al., 2015. From barriers to limits to climate change adaptation: path dependency
and the speed of change.
Finlayson, C.M. and et.al., 2017. Policy considerations for managing wetlands under a changing
climate. Marine and Freshwater Research. 68(10). pp.1803-1815.
Hobday, A.J. and et.al., 2018. Climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptations:
Australian marine fisheries.
Hurlimann, A. and Wilson, E., 2018. Sustainable urban water management under a changing
climate: The role of spatial planning. Water. 10(5). p.546.
Mintrom, M. and Luetjens, J., 2017. Policy entrepreneurs and problem framing: The case of
climate change. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 35(8), pp.1362-1377.
Moloney, S. and Fünfgeld, H., 2015. Emergent processes of adaptive capacity building: Local
government climate change alliances and networks in Melbourne. Urban Climate. 14.
pp.30-40.
Online
Greater Melbourne. 2019. [Online]. Accessed through
<https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/60742/Greater-
Melbourne.pdf>
Planning for climate change, a case study city of Port Phillip. 2006. [Online]. Accessed through
<http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/default/Planning_For_Climate_Change_-
_A_Case_Study.pdf>
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