Keywords
coastal hazards, climate change adaptation; systems thinking; system dynamics, Bayesian modelling, surf lifesaving
Location
Session H5: Systems Modeling and Climate Change: A Systematic Methodology for Disentangling Elements of Vulnerability, Adaptation and Adaptive Capacity
Start Date
16-6-2014 9:00 AM
End Date
16-6-2014 10:20 AM
Abstract
Australia's beaches, an iconic playground and social hub for coastal communities, are threatened by coastal hazards and by the impacts of climate change. In particular, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has assets, facilities and personnel exposed to coastal hazards and climate change, including numerous surf life saving clubs (SLSCs), which can impact its capacity of providing beach and water safety for Australian beaches. This research employed a range of methods to identify climate change adaptation options and to identify mechanisms to enhance adaptive capacity, combining a range of system-oriented, stakeholder-based techniques, including system thinking conceptual modelling, structural analysis, system dynamics and Bayesian modelling. These techniques were employed in a series of workshops with local SLSCs and SLSA's head office and were designed to engage stakeholders and gather data for analysis. A range of adaptation options and adaptive capacity determinants were identified and tested. The final result is a set of actions to improve the adaptive capacity of the selected case studies, with implication for other SLSCs at the national level. The research shows how systemic, participatory approaches are effective in identifying critical issues and possible solutions to adapt to current coastal hazards and future climate change.
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Data Storage Systems Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Hydraulic Engineering Commons, Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons
Engaging Australian Surf Lifesaving in coastal hazard and climate change adaptation with stakeholder driven modelling
Session H5: Systems Modeling and Climate Change: A Systematic Methodology for Disentangling Elements of Vulnerability, Adaptation and Adaptive Capacity
Australia's beaches, an iconic playground and social hub for coastal communities, are threatened by coastal hazards and by the impacts of climate change. In particular, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has assets, facilities and personnel exposed to coastal hazards and climate change, including numerous surf life saving clubs (SLSCs), which can impact its capacity of providing beach and water safety for Australian beaches. This research employed a range of methods to identify climate change adaptation options and to identify mechanisms to enhance adaptive capacity, combining a range of system-oriented, stakeholder-based techniques, including system thinking conceptual modelling, structural analysis, system dynamics and Bayesian modelling. These techniques were employed in a series of workshops with local SLSCs and SLSA's head office and were designed to engage stakeholders and gather data for analysis. A range of adaptation options and adaptive capacity determinants were identified and tested. The final result is a set of actions to improve the adaptive capacity of the selected case studies, with implication for other SLSCs at the national level. The research shows how systemic, participatory approaches are effective in identifying critical issues and possible solutions to adapt to current coastal hazards and future climate change.
