Reforms that Integrate Climate Change Adaptation with Disaster Risk Management Based on the Australian Experience of Bushfires and Floods

Abstract

Responding to disasters such as floods and bushfires demands immediate action, while adapting to the impacts of climate change requires a consistent long-term policy commitment. Systems of government need to be able to do both at the same time, despite all the other demands on scarce public resources. This chapter summarises the findings of a project that searched for opportunities to improve the situation by integrating disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. The research was based on comparative case studies of recent extreme bushfires and floods in Australia. The paper offers some practical recommendations for reform that consist of changes to agencies and funding to empower local communities as well as improve collaboration within and between sectors of society. This entails: focussing on a common policy goal of building resilience; empowering communities with local resilience building grants; promoting institutional learning by embedding climate change experts within disaster risk management organisations; and, facilitating interagency collaboration through improved networking at all levels. Such reforms will help to build resilience to both disasters and climate change.