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Bridging the gap between theory and practice in climate change vulnerability assessments for remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia

Green, Donna, Niall, Stephanie and Morrison, Joe (2012). Bridging the gap between theory and practice in climate change vulnerability assessments for remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia. Local Environment,17(3):295-315.

Document type: Journal Article
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Title Bridging the gap between theory and practice in climate change vulnerability assessments for remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia
Author Green, Donna
Niall, Stephanie
Morrison, Joe
Journal Name Local Environment
Publication Date 2012
Volume Number 17
Issue Number 3
ISSN 1354-9839   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-84859397397
Start Page 295
End Page 315
Total Pages 21
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Routledge
Abstract This paper considers the Australian federal government's approach to climate adaptation policy for remote northern Indigenous communities through the close examination of a seminal Scoping Study. This approach is taken to illustrate the lag between adaptation theory and practice, and to highlight important considerations to enable the development of a just and effective policy. The analysis suggests that policy in this area would benefit from the further consideration of three factors, namely the role of uncertainty in climate policy, the need for meaningful consultation with communities, and the benefit of integrating contextual and bottom-up assessment of vulnerability with decision-making in an iterative manner. The paper concludes by suggesting that the current approach to vulnerability assessment is insufficiently nuanced to allow an adequate appreciation of factors that influence social vulnerability in remote communities, and consequently, policy developed from it is likely to be ineffective.
Keywords adaptation
Australia
climate change
Indigenous
vulnerability
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2012.665857   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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Created: Fri, 29 Aug 2014, 16:58:25 CST by Anthony Hornby