Climate Action
Inform and Support Government
The University of Newcastle informs and supports local and regional governments in climate change disaster risk early warning and monitoring. In 2025, our researchers provided coastal-hazard information to City of Newcastle and developed heatwave risk assessments relevant to councils across NSW. Our Pacific partnerships also help build the evidence behind future disaster-warning tools.
Coastal hazard monitoring with City of Newcastle
Following several days of heavy rainfall in May 2025, researchers from the University’s Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering identified instability along the cliff line at South Newcastle Beach. Working with City of Newcastle, the team provided geotechnical data and insights to inform Council decisions about ongoing monitoring, public safety and remediation along this heavily used stretch of coastline.
In October 2025, the University research team was awarded Australian Research Council funding to advance monitoring and prediction of coastal cliff erosion under changing climate conditions.
Heatwave risk assessment for NSW local governments
The University-led Heatwave Hub project uses climate projections, geospatial analysis and community-vulnerability data to assess heatwave risks across NSW local government areas. Led by Associate Professor Danielle Verdon-Kidd and supported by more than $1.3 million from the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, the project aims to help councils identify higher-risk populations and improve their preparedness.
In 2025, University of Newcastle researchers contributed to understanding and addressing the impacts of extreme heat on local communities. The July 2025 Heatwaves Hub Technical Report 1 assessed current and emerging heatwave risks across NSW local government areas under climate change, providing evidence to support targeted resilience planning. Complementary 2025 research involving interviews with local government agencies and community organisations supporting older people identified gaps in heatwave awareness, financial barriers to adaptation and urban planning challenges that can increase vulnerability during extreme heat. These findings provide valuable insights to inform local government planning and strengthen community resilience to climate change.
Heatwave resilience research team (left to right): Dr Helen Giggins, Associate Professor Kim Maund, Associate Professor Danielle Verdon-Kidd, Professor Alison Hutton and Associate Professor Thayaparan Gajendran.
Developing impact-based cyclone forecasting with Pacific partners
In May 2025, Philip Malsale, a senior climatologist with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), commenced doctoral research at the University under Associate Professor Anthony Kiem. This project aims to combine tropical cyclone forecasts with vulnerability and exposure data to inform risk assessments for agriculture and health and water infrastructure in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
The planned forecasting tool is intended to help government decision-makers anticipate the timing, location and likely severity of cyclone impacts. It was still under development in 2025, rather than an operational early-warning service.
The research is supported by the University’s Pacific Initiative with SPREP, which connects research with regional government and community priorities. Earlier University research contributed to a long-range tropical cyclone outlook for the Southwest Pacific.
By turning climate research into practical information for government agencies, the University supports earlier identification of hazards and better-informed public-safety decisions. This work strengthens local and regional preparedness for increasingly severe weather extremes.
Asia Pacific Focus
We will pursue opportunities for partnerships and engagement in the Asia Pacific Region across business and government.
In focus
Partnering in the South Pacific
As a globally and socially committed institution, we are working with partners across the world to build equitable prosperity, social cohesion and healthy communities. Of critical importance is ensuring that our nearest neighbours, the Pacific Islands, are supported in the face of significant environmental, social and economic challenges. Our partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme will deliver cooperative and sustainable solutions to complex challenges faced by Pacific Island communities. With a focus on collaboration, we have formed educational partnerships with the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific. Through these initiatives and partnerships, we will invest in the capabilities of our students, staff and partners to deliver multidisciplinary research and research training, particularly in the areas of agriculture and fisheries, disaster management and health, in order to drive solutions to significant global issues.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.