Climate Change
picture by Andy Tyler of Sydney’s dust storm on 23 September 2009.
Pasquale Steduto, Chair of the United Nations’ Water and Service Chief of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) stated “…There is no development without water. There is no food security without water. There is most likely also no energy security without water. Water is the primary medium through which climate change influences the Earth’s ecosystems and therefore people’s livelihoods and well-being. If water is not further recognized in adaptation strategies and plans, we are making a big mistake.”
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology’s official Annual Australian Climate Statement released in January 2010 states: “Based on the analysis of daily (maximum and minimum) temperature data above and below set thresholds, there are clear upward trends in the number of hot events and downward trends in the number of cold events (over the period 1960 to date), consistent with global warming.”
Research shows that climate change will increase the number of high temperature days in Australia’s urban environment and also the increased likelihood of two or more consecutive days of high temperature. This snapshot of Australia’s changing climate was written by CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in 2010.
Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Metropolitan Sydney
The SMCMA has undertaken projects to investigate predicted Climate Change Impacts on the Sydney Region, and make recommendations towards a method for considering Climate Change Impacts on both the built and natural environments.
Click here to download Stage 1 Literature Review - Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Metropolitan Sydney.
Additional Resources
Recent studies have provided empirical evidence linking high temperature and heat wave days to health vulnerability and mortality, especially of people over the age of 65. The urban heat island effect will also reduce the ability of cities to cool in the evenings and early mornings, thus increasing the health risk to Australia’s ageing population.
Solutions to mitigating the urban heat island effect using Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) include such measures 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.
Click here to learn more about the 5 year research program, Cities as Water Supply Catchments and how research and industry partners are investigating the means to harness the potential of stormwater to supplement water usage and build resilience to the challenges of housing a growing population in an era of climate change.
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 projects or initiatives on this web page please contact Phillip Birtles, WSUD Program Manager via info@wsud.org.