In September, Act on Climate facilitated two community resilience mapping sessions hosted by the Nillumbik Climate Action Team (NCAT). The proactive sessions in Hurstbridge and Eltham produced great actionable ideas for community members to start working on.

Appropriate and relevant climate resilience initiatives are key to keeping communities safe. This can take many forms, including preparing for and adapting to the changing climate and its impacts, for instance, by increasing disaster preparedness. Community resilience mapping helps communities understand their unique challenges and strengths, which climate impacts they’re most at risk from and who is most at risk, so that they can implement appropriate adaptive solutions. 

In September, Act on Climate facilitated two community resilience mapping sessions hosted by the Nillumbik Climate Action Team (NCAT). The proactive sessions in Eltham and Hurstbridge produced great actionable ideas for community members to start working on.

Appropriate and relevant climate resilience initiatives are key to keeping communities safe. This can take many forms, including preparing for and adapting to the changing climate and its impacts, for instance, by increasing disaster preparedness. Community resilience mapping helps communities understand their unique challenges and strengths, which climate impacts they’re most at risk from and who is most at risk, so that they can implement appropriate adaptive solutions. 

While the National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) has confirmed the climate risks we face now and in the future, Victorian communities are already working on local climate adaptation solutions. It’s the money to make these happen that is missing!

The National Adaptation Plan has also been released, but it has been described as more of a guiding framework than an actual plan, again showing that we need to push for more action on climate adaptation and for the solutions we want. 

A strong call for the state to step up on climate risks - that’s what the Parliamentary Report for the Inquiry into Climate Resilience amounts to. What’s in it? Find a summary of all the findings and recommendations, as well as AoC and its supporters and allies' impact, below.

Our asks were strongly advocated for, with the report firmly backing up our ask for adequate funding and a VCCAF and other key elements of our campaign, including: ongoing funding, First Nations- and community-led climate adaptation, and just adaptation that considers those most at risk.

Parliamentary Climate Resilience Inquiry report shines a light on Victoria’s lack of preparedness and funding for climate adaptation, highlighting the urgent need for more state support and up to date climate risk assessments.

On Thursday, 31st July, the Act on Climate collective launched the Australia Climate Adaptation Map website! We gathered on Wurundjeri country to celebrate the site launch and showcase climate adaptation initiatives underway in communities across Australia. 

The evening, hosted at the Friends of the Earth Co-op Cafe, was a beautiful reflection on the hard work of the collective members in the last few months and the adaptation community in Victoria and beyond.

This month we've been reflecting on all we have already achieved this year and all the exciting plans we have for the rest of the year. From our fantastic Climate Adaptation Fair to researching, writing and releasing our Climate Resilience Inquiry report, we have been at the forefront of progressing climate adaptation in Victoria. Read more about all we have achieved below!

We're on the way to creating climate prepared communities in Vic through empowering communities and pressuring the government. Let's keep the momentum going!

We're at a critical point in our campaign and we've got big plans going forward.

Right now our collective is gearing up to visit communities to galvanise local climate adaptation through education, inspiration and support. We are empowering communities to develop their own climate resilience and adaptation plans... but we need your help. Can you help us by making a small but critical tax-deductible donation?

Even $10 or less helps - no donation is too small! It all adds up.

Your contribution will also enable us to continue pushing for increased funding of climate adaptation. Our pressure on the Vic Gov to provide adequate funding for community-led climate adaptation is working!

With climate impacts here now, we can't afford to let this momentum go to waste! We need your support to keep us campaigning.

Can you contribute $10?

Unable to support us monetarily this time? More ways to support us and others in preparing for locked-in climate impacts below!

Keen to join our campaign or learn some organising skills? Come to a collective meeting - no experience needed, just passion for climate justice.

Act on Climate facilitated a community resilience mapping session hosted by the Whittlesea Climate Action Network (WCAN) at the start of this month. The session was invigorating, with many great actionable ideas coming up, and passion from those in the room to start working on them. 

Having appropriate and relevant climate resilience initiatives are key to keeping communities safe. Community resilience mapping helps communities to understand their unique challenges and strengths, and which climate impacts they’re most at risk from, so that they can implement appropriate solutions. It identifies the residents most at risk, where a community has strong climate resilience, and where the gaps are in its climate impact readiness.

We're offering support to anyone who wants to facilitate the activity in their own community. Check out our Community Resilience Mapping Facilitation Guide, which you can use to guide the running of your own event!

Community Resilience Mapping is used to achieve good climate resilience, through community members brainstorming strategies that keep community members safe. The session:

• Helps inform adaptation and emergency response plans & the prioritisation of time and resources
• Results in practical community-led solutions & knowledge of how can stay safe

Through identifying: 

• Exposures: various climate impacts
• Sensitivities: who/which areas most at risk
• Assets: what already in place to reduce impacts
• Adaptive Capacity: where are the gaps

This activity was adapted from the Climate Resilience Project.

Read more on what community resilience mapping is and why to do it.

Read on for more about the community resilience mapping session with WCAN and it's outcomes.

Act on Climate (AoC) has officially launched its new report, VIC Climate Resilience Inquiry Analysed: The leading concerns & adaptation solutions! If you missed it, want to share it or want a recap, there's a recording!

Watch the launch video below or on YouTube. 

Read more about the report here, then send an email about it to your state MP. Even better, take one to them in person! (reach out to us about doing this - we can help with resources, and we would love photographic evidence)