Climate change vulnerability and adaptation: Voices from the community services sector in Victoria

Abstract

Cities around Australia are increasingly affected by the impacts of climate variability and climate change, such as heatwaves, flooding, bushfires and other climate change related trends and events. While it is widely discussed in the academic literature that climate change will exacerbate existing social and economic disadvantage of urban populations, evidence of such processes in Australia is still scarce. In this paper we present findings of a current research project conducted in Victoria that explored the notion of climate change vulnerability through the prism of community sector organisations. As part of the qualitative research, different types of community service and primary health care organisations were studied to ascertain the extent to which organisations and their clients perceived to be affected by climate change impacts; if and how they were learning to respond to such impacts; and if they had made progress to proactive climate change adaptation planning in the face of future climate change. Drawing on primary interview data, we provide an account of how community service organisations perceived climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation. Their views suggest that many organisations consider climate change impacts to be significant to their organisation and their clients, yet only few manage to make progress with adaptation. Factors that influence an organisation's capacity to adapt to climate change are often contextual and include the recent experience of extreme weather events, charismatic leadership and personal commitment, as well as drawing on strong partnerships and networks. The findings suggest that community-based organisations have a crucial role to play in adaptation as climate change impacts become more frequent and more intense, affecting increasingly large urban populations across Australia.