Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation

In 2008 the Australian Government committed funding of $10 million over four years to establish the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) hosted by Griffith University and covering eight national research networks investigating the effects of climate change on a range of nationally important areas. 

The Built Environment node of the Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Settlements and Infrastructure (ACCARNSI) is based at City Futures.  The aim is to lead the research community in a national interdisciplinary effort to generate the information needed by decision-makers in government and in vulnerable sectors and communities to manage the risks of climate change impacts and choose appropriate adaptation strategies. 

Professor Bill Randolph co-led the bid that brought the Network for Settlements and Infrastructure to UNSW in 2008.  The Centre hosts the Built Environment Node of the Network and during 2009 Dr Peter Graham took over the leadership of this Node from Prof Randolph.  The Built Environment node focuses on the impacts of climate change on building and facility design and construction to explore the social, economic and institutional implications of climate change impacts, and the resulting implications for planning, design and management of Australian settlements and infrastructure. 

The aim is to make research into climate change adaptation in both the physical and human aspects of Australia’s settlements and infrastructure a truly multi-disciplinary enterprise. In this way, the Network will build our understanding and national adaptive capacity and reduce our vulnerability to climate change in key sections and regions of the country.  The NCCARF initiative funds a half time appointment to support the activities of the node.