Living with climate change : a national conference on climate change impacts and adaptation : proceedings : 18-19 December 2002, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction / Tim Besley Grasping the future : the challenges and opportunities of climate change for Australia / David Kemp -- Pt. 1. Climate science -- Climate science : what do we know? / Graeme Paerman and Kevin Hennessy -- Pt. 2. Perspectives of change -- Climate policy and uncertainty : the roles of adaption versus mitigation / Warwick J McKibbin and Peter J Wilcoxen Australia's journey into a changing climate : a social science perspective / Anthony J McMichael Grasping the next twenty years / Barney Foran Living with lcimate change : can we take lessons from history? / John Chappell Scale, risk and information / Iain Davidson -- Pt. 3. Climate change, sectoral & regional implications -- Constructing an Australia that can deal with uncertainty / Robin Batterham Biodiversity and climate change : possible impacts, adaptive response and research / Hugh Possingham, Lesley Hughes and Mark Howden Constructing an Australia that can deal with uncertainty : societies and people / Aynsley Kellow Greenhouse and climate change risks : transport in Queensland / John Chapman Constructing an Australia that can deal with uncertainty : an energy perspective / Brian Fisher Constructing an Australia that can deal with uncertainty : energy and energy intensive industry response to climate change / Martin H Tomas -- The impact of climate change on insurance against catastrophes / Tony Coleman Sustainable regional and urban community adapting to climate change / Sharon Boyle climate change : impacts and adaption for agriculture / Colin Grant Informed adaption to a changed climate state : is South-Western Australia a canary? / Brian Sadler -- Pt. 4. International context -- Living with climate change : the international situation - current focus and future directions / John W Zillman.

"[The conference's] purpose was to engage leaders from business, science and the community in discussion about the need for Australians to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It marks the beginning of what is expected to be a sustained debate and sharing of information... Adaption to the impacts of climate change is extremely complex and will affect all Australians. The development of government policy will need to be based on scientific, social and economic analysis, and must include a substantial communication and consultation strategy. Opportunities should be created for discussion in a range of public, professional and business forums as policy development proceeds." -- p. vii, viii.