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Scientist to address climate change forum
The Sunshine Coast’s capacity to adapt to climate change will be one of the key matters discussed by a University of the Sunshine Coast academic at a special public forum on Sunday 4 September.
USC’s Sustainability Research Centre Director Professor Tim Smith will outline the relationship between climate change and marine and coastal adaptation at the event at the Forest Glen Holiday Resort from 7-8.30pm.
Professor Smith will be one of three leading Australian scientists in the fields of climatology, ecology and social science at the forum, The Climate Story – from Impacts to Adaptation, which has been organised by National Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Marine Biodiversity and Resources (Marine Adaptation Network).
He’ll be joined by University of Tasmania academics Associate Professor Neil Holbrook and Dr Greta Pecl who will discuss the topics of “making sense of climate change” and the “impacts to marine biodiversity”.
Professor Smith won a prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize in 2009 for his lead role in a major climate change adaptation project in Sydney, and is currently involved in a similar project for South East Queensland.
He said Sunday’s forum would provide a great opportunity for Sunshine Coast residents to hear about the science involved in climate change adaptation, particularly in relation to marine and coastal environments, and to ask questions.
“My main message is that we can have all the strategies in the world for adapting to climate change, but what is critically important is that we understand our capacity to actually adapt,” he said.
Professor Smith said the Sunshine Coast needed measures in place now to minimise the future impacts of climate change.
“If we look at development for example in the coastal zone, we need to consider where we actually place future development and the sorts of risks we might face under future climate change scenarios,” he said.
“The Queensland Government released its coastal plan earlier in the year which was essentially developing hazard maps for future development and restricting future development in areas that are likely be affected by climate change, so one example of adaptation is actually thinking about the potential risks of future development.”
To secure a space at the forum please register online or phone Clare Brooker 0488 441 255.
— Michelle Widdicombe