In consultation with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has commenced a one year project, reporting in June 2010, to undertake a preliminary review of Australian and international examples of climate adaptation tools and strategies for responding to the impacts of climate change in the context of cities and their urban environments.
For the purpose of this project, a "Climate Adaptation Tool" (CAT) is defined as: "...a described set of methods applied within the context of urban planning, design & management processes to enable the formulation, application and evaluation of adaptive responses to the impacts of climate change within human settlements, as part of a broader integrated sustainability approach."
The project aims to identify a range of climate adaptation tools (CATs) that are currently in use or under development within Australia and overseas, and to examine their scope of influence and potential applicability within the context of national and international initiatives to foster climate-adapted and sustainable human settlements.
The project is being led by AILA with funding from the Australian Commonwealth Department of Climate Change. Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will contribute scientific advice and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) will provide global reach and awareness.
Common organizational goals for the project are:
- To examine the potential role of climate adaptation tools within the urban environment to assist progress towards broader sustainability objectives.
- To identify the 'value-add' potential of integrated urban landscape planning, design and management strategies to support broader, collaboratively-based responses to the many challenges of climate change and sustainable urban development.
- To promote understanding of natural and urban ecosystem processes and their relevance to people, using this knowledge to improve climate adaptation responses across a range of urban settlement types and landscape scales.
- To explore the socio-cultural, economic and ecosystem context within which urban landscape planning, design and management decisions are made, and to identify barriers and opportunities for progress towards climate adaptation.
- To critically review and identify best practice exemplars of climate adaptation tools as options for future support and adoption by government and industry.
A reference group representing key research, industry and professional stakeholder groups within the urban environment in Australia and overseas has been developed.
This group will provide a conduit for collation of broad stakeholder input and review.
Project details and updates will be made available online: www.aila.org.au/climate
Other references: www.aila.org.au/policies
