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Community

CSIRO aims to establish and build relationships with members of the community. We welcome people of all ages to come and explore our facilities, holiday programs and public events.

Contact

Phone:

1300 363 400

Email:

enquiries@csiro.au

More contact options

About CSIRO

CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

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Adapting to Climate Change

Our lives and livelihoods are shaped by the climate, so adapting to future climates will involve nearly all aspects of our economy, society and the environment.

A picture of a country town on a sunny day.

Vulnerability to climate change depends on a balance between environmental impacts and the community's capacity to adapt.

Cactus, Opuntia robusta.

Assessing climate change implications on South Australia's weeds and adaptation option.

Dr Leanne Webb with netting and plants in the background.

Case study - Advancing vintages: wine-growing and climate change.

A sign post in a rural landscape with signs reading: opportunity, risk and success. Image copyright iStockphoto.com/LockieCurrie

To assess true vulnerability to climate change, we need to integrate climatic and environmental impacts with the community's capacity to adapt.

Image of two people walking a dog on a beach with erosion on the Queensland Gold Coast.
Australia is vulnerable to climate change

Australia is likely to become warmer, with less rainfall and more droughts in the south, uncertain rainfall changes in the north, more heatwaves, less snow, more fires, more heavy rainfall events and more intense cyclones.

Coastal area
Learning to adapt to future climates

Climate change is already underway, and will bring many changes to our weather, lifestyles and economy. Here are some ideas behind climate adaptation and what it may mean for you.

Climate change science and solutions

Adapting to Climate Change

What about unavoidable climate change? Identifying ways to adapt can help communities reduce the costs and take advantage of opportunities.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

How can we reduce, delay or avoid climate change? Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using clean energy and storing carbon are crucial.

Understanding Climate Change

How do we know the climate is changing? By closely monitoring the Earth's climate system and oceans, and studying the influence of greenhouse gases.

Our research

Alphine snow

Pathways to adaptation

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Pathways to adaptation

- Flagship research is ensuring that Australia is positioned to deal effectively with the impacts of climate change by providing the scientific knowledge needed to improve our ability to adapt. Learn more>

City scene by night.

Sustainable cities and coasts

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Sustainable cities and coasts

- Flagship researchers are developing planning, design, infrastructure and management solutions to help Australia's cities and coasts adapt to a changing climate. Learn more>

Baby turtle

Managing species and natural ecosystems in a changing climate

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Managing species and natural ecosystems in a changing climate

- Climate Adaptation Flagship research is developing and delivering adaptation options to protect Australia’s marine and terrestrial species, ecosystems and the services they provide from the impacts of climate change. Learn more>

Scientists and farmers.

Adaptive primary industries, enterprises and communities

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Adaptive primary industries, enterprises and communities

- The Climate Adaptation Flagship is developing adaptation options for Australia's primary industry and resource sectors to reduce the vulnerabilities and enhance opportunities created by climate change and variability. Learn more>

Melbourne's Telstra Dome with the Yarra River in the foreground and city in the background.

Urban Water: addressing Australia's urban water challenges

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Urban Water: addressing Australia's urban water challenges

- The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship's Urban Water Research Theme is providing knowledge and technologies to enable the mainstream adoption of innovative, sustainable and integrated water management within Australian cities. Learn more>

Upper Burdekin Valley of Lagoons.

Healthy water ecosystems

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Healthy water ecosystems

- The Healthy Water Ecosystems Theme, part of the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, provides the knowledge to protect or rehabilitate the health of Australia's water ecosystems. Learn more>

Rain over a vineyard in Griffith, NSW.

Understanding how climate change affects water supply

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Understanding how climate change affects water supply

- Our Water for a Healthy Country Flagship research into climate change and variability will maximise agricultural, urban and ecological water use opportunities. Learn more>

Eucalypt trees beside still water with reflections in the Murray Darling River system.

Sustainable Yields Projects

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Sustainable Yields Projects

- CSIRO is undertaking a comprehensive scientific assessment of current and future water availability in major water systems across Australia to provide a consistent framework for future water policy decisions. Learn more>

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Contact Information

Ms Anne Leitch

Communication specialist

Climate Adaptation Flagship

Phone: 61 7 3833 5652

Email: Anne.Leitch@csiro.au

Ms Mary Mulcahy

Communications Manager

Energy Group

Phone: 61 2 6276 6165

Alt Phone: 61 419 236 519

Email: Mary.Mulcahy@csiro.au

Explore CSIRO

Community

CSIRO aims to establish and build relationships with members of the community. We welcome people of all ages to come and explore our facilities, holiday programs and public events.

Contact

Phone:

1300 363 400

Email:

enquiries@csiro.au

More contact options

About CSIRO

CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.