Equitable Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

Until recently there has been little research that investigates social vulnerability and adaptation to sea-level rise at scales that are meaningful to local decision-makers and residents, in part because approaches for conducting such research are not well established. This research aimed to develop an approach for identifying the social and equity outcomes of various strategies to adapt to sea-level rise, and to advance knowledge about social justice and adaptation to climate change.

This three year research project advanced knowledge about adapting to sea-level rise by:

1. Enhancing understanding of the likely social outcomes of sea-level rise and a range of adaptation strategies in five coastal communities in Gippsland East, Victoria: Lakes Entrance, Seaspray, Port Albert, McLoughlins Beach and Manns Beach.
2. Developing an approach for identifying the ‘lived’ values at risk from sea-level rise and from various strategies to adapt to sea-level rise,
3. Developing and testing the concept of an ‘adaptation pathway’ that can help communities and governments to take steps to manage the risks of sea-level rise

Statement for media- Equitable local outcomes in adaption to sea level rise 20062014.pdf

Project outcomes

Throughout the project’s duration there have been a range of outcomes. The project culminated in the publication of a ‘Guide for Government’ on how to incorporate community values into climate change planning.  Other outcomes include annual project reports and minor project reports, through to academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals, and numerous presentations to local communities, industry, government, and academics.  The details of these outcomes are provided below.

Guide for Government

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2014) Incorporating Community Values into Climate Change Planning: A Guide for Local Government, Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, June. ISBN: 978 0 7340 4930 8. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/39610

Reports

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2014) Equitable Local Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: Final Project Report. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, June. ISBN: 978 0 7340 4928 5. Available online at: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/39609

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2012) Equitable Local Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: Year 2 Project Report 2012. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Available online at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18599

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Osbaldiston N, Mortreux C (2011) Equitable Local Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: Year 1 Project Report 2011. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Available online at:  http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18589

Minor Study Reports

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2012) A snapshot of the lived values of Lakes Entrance: Results from a phone survey, Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, November.  Available online at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18583

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2012) A snapshot of the lived values of Manns Beach, McLoughlins Beach and Robertsons Beach: Results from a mail-out survey. Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, November.  Available online at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18588

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2012) A snapshot of the lived values of Port Albert: Results from a mail-out survey, Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, November.  Available online at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18595

Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Graham S, Mortreux C (2012) A snapshot of the lived values of Seaspray: Results from a mail-out survey, Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, November.  Available online at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18591

Published Journal Articles

Fincher, R., Barnett, J. and Graham, S. (2015) Temporalities in adaptation to sea-level rise, Annals of the Association of American Geographers 105(2): 1-11.

Barnett, J., Graham, S., Waters, E., Mortreux, C., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A., (2014) A Local Adaptation Pathway, Nature Climate Change. 4 (12), 1103-1108

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A., Mortreux, C., (2014) Local values for fairer adaptation to sea-level rise: A typology of residents and their lived values in Lakes Entrance, Australia, Global Environmental Change 29, 41-52.

Fincher, R., Barnett, J., Graham, S., Hurlimann, A., (2014) Time stories: making sense of futures in anticipation of sea-level rise, Geoforum, 56, 201-210.

Hurlimann A, Barnett J, Fincher R, Osbaldiston N, Mortreux C, Graham S (2014) Urban planning and sustainable adaptation to sea-level rise. Landscape and Urban Planning, 126: 84-93.  Available through the journal homepage or at:  http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18586

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Mortreux, C., Hurlimann, A., (2014) Towards fair local outcomes in adaptation to sea-level rise, Climatic Change. DOI:10.1007/s10584-014-1171-7

Graham S, Barnett J, Fincher R, Hurlimann A, Mortreux C, Waters E (2013) The social values at risk from sea-level rise. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 41:45-52. Available through the journal home page or at: http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/18564

Conference presentations

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C (2013) Climate change adaptation – A values approach for community engagement. Institute of Australian Geographer’s Conference 2013, Perth.

Fincher, F. (2013) Time stories: making sense of futures in anticipation of sea level rise. Institute of Australian Geographer’s Conference 2013, Perth.

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2013) Equitable local outcomes in adaptation to sea-level rise in Australia. Multi-disciplinary perspectives on climate ethics, Como.

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2013) Social Impacts of Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise in Lakes Entrance, Victoria. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Conference, Sydney.

Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A., Osbaldiston, N. (2010) ‘The Impact of Planning Controls in Climate Change Adaptation on Local Communities: A Case Study of Port Albert’ Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference, Macquarie University Sydney, December.

Invited presentations

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2014) Climate change adaptation: developing a values approach for community engagement. Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries Coastal Hazard Forum – Gippsland Lakes, Bairnsdale: March 11.

Barnett, J., Mortreux, C. Graham, S., Fincher, R., and Hurlimann, A. 2013. ‘Talking Down the Town: Stigma and Discourses of Climate Change Risks in lakes Entrance, International Centre for research on Organisational Discourse, Strategy and Change Workshop on Risk, Melbourne University, December 5-6.

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. 2013. ‘Equitable Local Outcomes in Adaptation to Seal Level Rise’. Presentation to the Board of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the Mayor and Councillors of East Gippsland Shire Council. Bairnsdale, April 23.

Barnett, J., Graham, S., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2013) Adaptation with consensus. Municipal Association of Victoria Coastal Adaptation Forum, Melbourne: November 15.

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2013) Climate adaptation: developing a values approach for community engagement. Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter: October 9.

Barnett, J. and Graham, S. (2013) Adapting to sea-level rise. Rural Summit 2013: The Rural Revolution. Regional Councils Victoria Annual Summit, Lakes Entrance: May 3.

Graham, S., Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A. and Mortreux, C. (2012) Social Justice and Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise in Gippsland East. Brotherhood of St Lawrence, Melbourne: May 24.

Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann A. and Osbaldiston, N. 2011 (August) Adapting to sea-level rise in East Gippsland: A report of a project in progress, Resource Management and geography seminar series, The University of Melbourne

Barnett, J., Fincher, R., Hurlimann, A., Osbaldiston, N. (2011) ‘Equitable Local Outcomes in Adaptation to Sea Level Rise’ Costal Research Forum, National Sea Change Taskforce Conference, Torquay Victoria, March.

Hurlimann, A. Barnett, J., Fincher, R. (2009) Equitable local outcomes in adaptation to sea-level rise: a proposed research agenda of Gippsland, Victoria, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Symposium.  July 22-23 Brisbane.

Awards

Commendation at the Planning Institute of Australia 2015 National Awards in the ‘Cutting Edge Research and Teaching’ Category
Award for Planning Excellence in the Cutting Edge Research and Teaching Category at the Planning Institute of Australia – Victoria  2014 Awards

Funding

The project was conducted between 2010-2013, with funding from an Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP100100586. Project Partners included: Department of Environment and Primary Industries (Victorian Government – formerly the Department of Sustainability and Environment); Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (Victorian Government – formerly the Department of Environment and Sustainability); East Gippsland Shire Council; The Gippsland Coastal Board, and Wellington Shire Council.