Abstract
Australian agricultural systems are likely to be significantly affected by current and future climate changes. These changes will occur in the context of a variety of other issues, requiring adaptive management and policy responses that reduce vulnerabilities to a range of factors. We demonstrate how three such factors (climate change, population growth and consumption patterns) could interact to affect wheat exports both negatively and significantly, and how adaptation could reduce this risk. We discuss how there are many farm-level adaptations to existing systems that could bring substantial benefit in the early stages of climate change. However, these benefits tend to plateau with larger degrees of climate change (approximately above 2oC), requiring more transformational changes to agriculture. These transformations may include change in land use, change in location of agricultural activities or increased diversification of income streams. The role of science in adapting Australian agriculture to climate change is most likely to be enhanced by effective partnerships and engagement processes with farmer groups and other on-ground decision makers who can identify barriers to adoption and what may be maladaptive practices. There is also a strong case for increasing engagement with industry and government policy groups to integrate climate change adaptation with other concerns including mitigation, and also in the exploration of alternative governance arrangements.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Managing Climate Change |
Subtitle of host publication | Papers from the Greenhouse 2009 Conference |
Editors | Imogen Jubb, Paul Holper, Wenju Cai |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Chapter | 9 |
Pages | 101-112 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-0-643-10017-6, 978-0-643-10199-9 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780643098312, 0643098313 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Event | Greenhouse 2009: Climate Change and Resources - Perth, Australia Duration: 23 Mar 2009 → 26 Mar 2009 |
Conference
Conference | Greenhouse 2009 |
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Country/Territory | Australia |
City | Perth |
Period | 23/03/09 → 26/03/09 |