Environment, society and economy

The Guide provides a framework for managing the increased risk to organisations due to climate change impacts. The prime focus of the Guide is on the initial assessment and prioritisation of these risks. The Guide aims to help businesses and organisations: > enumerate risks related to climate change impacts; > prioritise risks that require further attention; and > establish a process for ensuring that these higher priority risks are managed effectively. In most instances this initial assessment level of risk appraisal can be undertaken by people with a sound professional knowledge of the relevant organisation, together with a general understanding of the likely directions and magnitudes of climate change. Climate change scenarios for risk assessment accompany this Guide.

Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) is an alliance of over 30 regional, state and national environmental, health, community development, and research groups from throughout Australia. CANA was formed in 1998 to be the Australian branch of the global CAN network, with representative groups in over 70 nations.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework, at its meeting on 13 April 2007, as the basis for government action on adaptation over the next five to seven years. The Framework includes possible actions to assist the most vulnerable sectors and regions, such as agriculture, biodiversity, fisheries, forestry, settlements and infrastructure, coastal, water resources, tourism and health to adapt to the impacts of climate change.