Australia has officially launched its first National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The document aims to reduce climate risks and create a resilient future in the face of already occurring changes.
The Australian government presented its first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) and the National Adaptation Plan, which translates scientific risk data into concrete steps to protect the population and ecosystems.
According to the document’s authors, adaptation means not fighting climate change itself, but adjusting to its consequences—from intensifying heatwaves to rising sea levels. The report emphasizes that “negative consequences depend on the decisions we make today.”
While mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation focuses on reducing the vulnerability of people, infrastructure, and natural systems. This is particularly relevant as climate change is already irreversible.
Australia is drawing on both ancient and modern practices: from the cultural fire management used by Indigenous peoples to urban greening and the creation of artificial reefs to protect coastlines. In New South Wales, adaptation measures are already integrated into the disaster preparedness system.
Authorities have also created a National Adaptation Database, collecting successful practices from across the country. Experts stress that “adaptation is a choice, not a luxury,” and risk assessment without concrete action is merely a disaster forecast. Researchers Bryllo and Barnett emphasize: “Australians should not only understand the scale of the problem but also invest in adaptation as a path to hope. It is not just a technical process, but a social movement capable of uniting society in the face of climate challenges.”
