Assessing resilient urban systems examines some key findings arising from research on the resilience and adaptive capacity of energy and water infrastructure systems in two Melbourne housing developments – one in the city’s outer north and the other in a rapidly gentrifying inner suburb.

Capital investment in transport, roads, health, water and electricity, amongst other sectors, is significant both in dollar terms and in its potential to interact with climate change adaptation strategies. The general lack of formalised approaches to assessing the social, environmental and economic impacts of capital investment projects is of particular concern.

This working paper described what ‘adapting’ to climate change means by clarifying commonly used terminology and how these different concepts are used in policy development in Australia, and other parts of the world.).

Large scale social change is required to recognise climate risks and effectively respond to them. It should not take disasters to provoke action or create the realisation that governments or communities are not sufficiently well-prepared to deal with the impacts of climate-related event.

The think tank brought together regional practitioners and national and international climate change adaptation researchers to identify regional challenges, knowledge needs and adaptation strategies.