Mission

To enhance the adaptive capacity of Australia’s marine biodiversity and resources to climate change risks through the effective integration of our knowledge of conditions, responses and interactions involving marine biodiversity, living marine resources, socioeconomic issues, policy, management and governance.

Mission

The overarching aim of the Biodiversity and Resources theme within the broader network is to better understand the adaptive capacity of marine biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels in the overall context of vulnerability to climate change risks. This information is vital to enable us to usefully inform policy and management decision-making for the long-term conservation of Australia’s marine assets and to enhance the adaptive capacity of Australia’s marine based industries. There is also a clear need to develop adaptation strategies for industry stakeholders that optimise the socio-economic goods and services provided by Australia’s marine resources.

Mission
To better understand and address the barriers and opportunities to adapting to climate change among marine conservationists, resource users and industries.

Adaptation of marine-dependent industries and communities to climate change occurs through social processes (e.g. the most efficient adaptation strategy may be ineffective if there are counter values and cultural norms that preclude its implementation). Similarly, assessing the vulnerability of marine-dependent industries and communities to climate change requires understanding of both the sensitivity of those industries and communities to climatic changes, as well as their capacity to respond to those changes (adaptive capacity). Thus, the aim of the Communities Theme is to better understand and address the barriers and opportunities to adapting to climate change among conservationists, marine resource users and the industries which depend on them.

Mission

To enhance the adaptive capacity of Australia’s marine biodiversity and resources to climate change risks through the development of flexible climate change adaptation policy, management and governance strategies.Adaptation to projected and unexpected changes in marine systems requires science, policy and practice to be well understood and connected.  Connecting these domains means much more than ensuring policy-makers and practitioners have access to scientific information about potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change. It implies that the lines of communication between policy, practice and science are open, respectful and inclusive.  These qualities form the foundations of the methodology currently being developed within the Policy Theme, to contribute to adaptation.

Theme Leader
A/Prof Neil Holbrook is Convenor of the Adaptation Research Network for Marine Biodiversity and Resources; Associate Professor of Climatology and Climate Change at the University of Tasmania; Associate Editor of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal and past Associate Editor of Journal of Climate [2006-2008] and Executive Secretary of the International Commission on Climate of IAMAS/IUGG. Neil is an international expert in the regional- to large-scale ocean and climate dynamics of the South Pacific, oceanic Rossby waves, climate predictability, extremes and climate change risks. He is interested in the complex feedbacks in climate change science, impacts and adaptation.


Co-theme Leader
Dr Paul Marshall is Director of the Climate Change Group in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. He leads national and international initiatives to understand climate vulnerability of coral reef systems and provide adaptation guidance for conservation practitioners and resource-dependent industries and communities. He is particularly interested in integrating knowledge to support practical adaptation measures in tropical marine systems.