Forum - Climate Change in the Hunter - A Community Focus
2pm - Friday October 17, 2008
Harold Lobb Concert Hall
The Conservatorium of Music
Corner of Auckland and Laman Streets, Newcastle
$10 including GST – University of Newcastle Staff and Students Free
All welcome
Flyer
Registration Form
Karen Blackmore Presentation (PDF 5.22mb)
There is little doubt that Australia will face some degree of climate change over the next 30 to 50 years irrespective of global or local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The significance of weather and climate to the Australian economy, lifestyle and environment mean that risk assessment and adaptation planning is necessary to prepare for the wide range of impacts that this change will deliver.
The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment is partnering with Hunter Councils to deliver a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Project. This initiative aims to identify the regional and sub regional scale impacts of climate change in the Hunter, Central and Lower North Coast area of NSW. This information will assist industry, government and the community to better understand and prepare for climate change through the development and implementation of adaptation strategies.
A series of Forums will be delivered to (i) Inform and promote discussion on the significance of climate to our lives (ii) Present the results of the research project regarding the potential impacts of climate change on the region’s economy, community and environment and (iii) Explore the role of adaptation planning in managing this change.
Purpose:
To provide the community with an understanding of the historic climate variability and trends that characterise the Hunter, Central and Lower North Coast, and the importance of this information in identifying the future regional and local scale impacts of climate change in our region.
To provide information on the nature and potential for climate change to impact on particular areas of interest or concern to the region’s community. In this regard, the forum will focus on coast and estuarine and community health issues.
Forum Speakers:
Dr Karen Blackmore
Karen will provide a detailed historical overview of the region’s climate characteristics and trends (including extreme events) that demonstrates the sub regional climate variability that is evident in the region. Karen’s presentation is the first time that this information, a key outcome of innovative climate change research being undertaken by local councils and the University of Newcastle will be made public. The historical data to be presented is central to achieving the research goals of identifying the regional and local scale impacts of climate change.
Doug Lord (Department of Environment & Climate Change)
Doug will provide the audience with an assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on the region’s iconic beach and estuarine environments; key assets that significantly underpin the recreational lifestyles and economic activity of the region.
