News release - Ian Hunter MLC
Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula community will be better prepared for the impacts of climate change thanks to an agreement signed today between the State Government and the region.
Sector agreement signed to strengthen regional climate adaptation action
The Climate Change Adaptation Sector Agreement cements the partnership between regional partners and the State Government and ensures the implementation of the recently completed Regional Hills and Coasts Adaptation plan.
The plan focuses on adaptation and response to the impacts, risks and opportunities of climate change.
The Resilient Hills and Coasts Region is diverse in its communities, economies, cultures, built and natural environments, and also in the climate change risks that it faces, which may include the threat of sea-level rise along the coasts, extreme heatwaves and increased risk of bushfires across the entire region.
The Australian and State Governments also recently announced $70,000 funding for the Kangaroo Island Council from the National Disaster and Resilience Fund, to further analyse the impacts of climate change in the region and involve the community in decision making.
Background
The Resilient Hills and Coasts Region covers a land area of almost 9,000 square kilometres of highly variable land, from coastal dunes to inland agricultural land. It includes all of Kangaroo Island and parts of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
South Australia’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework: Prospering in a Changing Climate provides for a coordinated and collaborative approach to preparing for the impacts of climate change in South Australia.
The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) worked with the Adelaide Hills Council, Alexandrina Council, City of Victor Harbor, District Council of Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island Council, Mount Barker District Council, Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Natural Resources Kangaroo Island, and the Southern & Hills LGA on the development of the Sector Agreement.Regional adaptation plans for the whole state were completed in 2016, helping better prepare the State for impacts of climate change and helping secure sustainable, prosperous and resilient regions.
Later this year, DEWNR will deliver a whole of government, state-wide climate change adaptation plan in response to the regional plans.
The regional plans are available online here.
Quotes attributable to Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter
Our natural environment sustains everything we love about our state and today – on World Environment Day – we are further reminded that we must continue to encourage everyone to not only look after the environment, but also to consider how they can adapt their daily behaviour in a changing climate.
The Sector Agreement is a great opportunity for all partners to recognise that climate change affects us all and preparing for the impacts of climate change is a shared responsibility of all levels of government, business, communities and individuals.
Adaptation is key in keeping our environment, communities, and businesses resilient. It also involves significant opportunities, such as attracting new industries and infrastructure investment to the state.
