Towards more effective adaptive planning: Measuring and reporting social resilience in vulnerable coastal communities facing climate change in tropical Queensland

Abstract

Settlements and communities in tropical Queensland are highly vulnerable to climate change and face an uncertain social, economic and environmental future. At the same time, these socially and economically vulnerable communities contain some of Australia’s most significant biodiversity values, including existing and proposed World Heritage sites (Wet Tropics and Cape York) wetlands of international significance (Gulf of Carpentaria) and places of significant marine and terrestrial diversity (e.g. Torres Strait). Past approaches to environmental management have predominantly focused on the biophysical dimensions of the problem however an equally important focus on building regional-scale community resilience is required if some of the worst impacts of climate change are to be avoided or mitigated. Government and community stakeholders need to know which actions, policies and arrangements build and support social resilience compared with those that do not. This paper outlines an emerging framework, indicators and method for information gathering and analysis to: (a) benchmark social resilience; (b) target the priority interventions required; and (c) measure progress arising from these interventions.