Climate change will affect water security in Australia. The CSIRO has developed a fact sheet that outlines the latest findings of their research and the impact that climate change, in the form of changing temperature, rainfall patterns and sea level rise will have on Australia.
Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Metropolitan Sydney
The SMCMA commissioned an investigation into the effects of climate change on stormwater infrastructure in the Sydney Region. This study makes recommendations toward a method for considering Climate Change Impacts on both the built and natural environments.
Climate Change and Sydney’s Stormwater Infrastructure Seminar – 8th March 2012 – Customs House, Sydney
In early March 2012 the SMCMA ran a seminar to give an overview of the Literature Review and provide an opportunity for comments on future directions. The presentations were excellent and you can download the slides below:
Dr Bhakti Devi – City of Sydney. Decentralised Water Master Plan
Geoff Hunter – JWP. Impacts of Climate Change on urban stormwater infrastructure in Metro Sydney
Geoff O’Loughlin - Adjusting rainfall data for climate change
Dr Peter Smith – Office of Environment and Heritage. Climate Change Science at OEH
How WSUD can help
Recent studies have provided empirical evidence linking high temperature and heat waves to health vulnerability and mortality, especially of people over the age of 65. The urban heat island effect reduces the ability of cities to cool in the evenings and early mornings, thus increasing the health risk. WSUD can be used to mitigatie the urban heat island effect using measures such as keeping water in the landscape and increasing green spaces for shade and increased evapo-transpiration. These initiatives can be readily combined with other initiatives of green infrastructure providing ecosystem services to the community in future water sensitive cities.
What are you doing to make your Local Government Area more resilient to Climate Change? If you would like to share information or promote your organisation’s climate change initiatives on this web page please contact Phillip Birtles, WSUD Program Manager via info@wsud.org.