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Understanding climate adaptation investments for communities living in desert Australia: experiences of indigenous communities

Author

Listed:
  • Digby Race

    (Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation
    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
    The Australian National University)

  • Supriya Mathew

    (Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation
    Charles Darwin University)

  • Matthew Campbell

    (Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation
    Tangentyere Council)

  • Karl Hampton

    (Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation
    Ninti One Ltd)

Abstract

Climate change is predicted to lead to warmer temperatures and more intense storms within the century in central and northern Australia. The ensuing impacts are anticipated to present immense challenges for remote communities, in terms of maintaining housing comfort, family health and wellbeing, engagement in education and employment, and community services and businesses. About 50 % of the Australian landmass is considered remote and it is home to a highly dispersed population of about half a million people (with 30 % being Indigenous people). Much of the population in remote Australia is considered highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change as they are highly exposed and sensitive to the impacts, with many having a low adaptive capacity. The lives of Aboriginal Australians living in remote communities are strongly influenced and governed by traditional customs, knowledge and practices. Even when living in large towns, people who are strongly connected to their country are able to blend knowledge from traditional and modern sources to adapt to the current climate. This article explores the extent of adaptive capacity of people to climate change in a small remote community and large service town in the Northern Territory of Australia and provides insights about their capacities and vulnerabilities. Results indicate that the social and cultural capital are of greater importance than commonly assessed and provide scope to enhance effective community-based climate adaptation.

Suggested Citation

  • Digby Race & Supriya Mathew & Matthew Campbell & Karl Hampton, 2016. "Understanding climate adaptation investments for communities living in desert Australia: experiences of indigenous communities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 461-475, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:139:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-016-1800-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-016-1800-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Popular Gentle & Rik Thwaites & Digby Race & Kim Alexander & Tek Maraseni, 2018. "Household and community responses to impacts of climate change in the rural hills of Nepal," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 267-282, March.
    2. Luciana Iocca & Teresa Fidélis, 2023. "Is There a Place for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Climate Change Policy and Governance? Learnings from a Brazilian Case," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Amal Chakraborty & Natasha J. Howard & Mark Daniel & Alwin Chong & Nicola Slavin & Alex Brown & Margaret Cargo, 2021. "Prioritizing Built Environmental Factors to Tackle Chronic and Infectious Diseases in Remote Northern Territory (NT) Communities of Australia: A Concept Mapping Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Jessica E. Taylor & Cristina Poleacovschi & Michael A. Perez, 2023. "Climate change adaptation trends among Indigenous peoples: a systematic review of the empirical research focus over the last 2 decades," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(6), pages 1-28, August.
    5. Saara Ranabhat & Suman Acharya & Suraj Upadhaya & Bikash Adhikari & Ram Thapa & Sadhana Ranabhat & Dev Raj Gautam, 2023. "Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in watershed areas in mid-hills of Nepal," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(2), pages 240-252, June.

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