Adapting to climate change : a Queensland local government guide / Local Government Association of Queensland Inc.

"June 2007" on cover.

Cover title.

Includes glossary (p. 54).

Includes bibliography (p. 48).

Section A: The context, process and tools -- A snapshot of climate change across Queensland -- Climate change and core business for Local Government -- Context and tools -- Section B: Application to climate change elements -- Assessing risk and developing an action plan -- Climate change elements -- Where to from here.

"[This guide] is a guide to help Councils throughout Queensland assess the likely effects of climate change on their diverse range of roles and responsibilities and plan appropriate responses. If adequately planned for, some of the effects ? and costs ? of climate change can be minimised. The Guide?s focus is on adaptation, and not on mitigation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Local Government is already extensively involved in emission mitigation programs, particularly the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP). To date however, there has been little focus on adaptation by all levels of government. This Guide provides an opportunity for Local Government to take a leading role in responding to climate change. Climate-related risks are not new to Local Government managers. Many of the existing roles and responsibilities of Local Governments are influenced by climate and weather events, and these are addressed by the array of existing planning and management systems employed by Councils. Generally speaking, climate change is not expected to create new risks, but it may change the frequency and intensity of existing risks and hazards. A key message in the Guide is that climate change effects can in many cases be dealt with as part of existing Council planning and operational processes. Managing climate change effects does not necessarily require new and additional resources. The Guide does not provide standard solutions for specific situations. Each region and community will have its own climate related vulnerabilities and priorities. It does, however, provide a process and some specific tools to help Councils identify and respond to climate change impacts including a decision-making framework, case studies and practical checklists. These are relevant to a plan, project or activity." -- p. 3.