Victoria Rising: Tales of Innovative Adaptation in southern Australia – Re-release

04/17/23 • 124 min

America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

In episode 183 of America Adapts, it’s a re-release of episode 68. Doug travels down under to Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. Doug was invited to give the keynote address at the Victoria Adaptation Summit, then he participated in the National Adaptation Conference, where he interviewed experts from throughout southern Australia. Learn innovative adaptation techniques from the private sector, local councils and the state government. Topics in this episode: local council approach to climate adaptation; innovative tools for communicating climate adaptation; understanding climate risks and profiting off it; the psychology of adapting to climate change; Victoria state government and the emerging role of states in adaptation planning; the use of big data in climate planning; private sector adaptation; can kangaroos adapt to climate change, and much more! Plus a bonus conversation with Dr. Amy Brady about her new book, Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks--a Cool History of a Hot Commodity.

Guests in this episode:

· Kath Rowley, Executive Director of the Climate Change Division in Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning· Nina Keath, Senior Strategic Planner, City of Onkaparinga · James Despaquali, Sustainability Planning and Strategy Officer at City of Whittlesea · Rohan Handem, XDI, Director, Projects· Dr. Johanna Nalau, Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Griffith Climate Change Response Program (GCCRP) · John Doole, Manager Environmental Services at Kingborough Council · Dr. Jean Palitikoff, Director of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility · Judy Turnbull and Fabian Sack, Sustainably · Dr Hallie Eakin, Senior Sustainability Scientist, Arizona State· Browyn Bresham, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Compassionate Nature· Julian Stanley, Senior Climate Change Planner at Barwon Water

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Links in this episode: https://climateleadership2018.com.au/speaker/kath-rowley/ http://climateadaptation2018.com.au/what-39-s-on https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/adapting-to-climate-change-impacts https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/media-releases/cl...

Guests in this episode:

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Now on Spotify !

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

Donate to America Adapts

Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here!

Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Previous Episode

Climate Change and the Legal System: Why the U.S. Constitution Needs to Adapt with Law Professor Mark Nevitt

In episode 182 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons host Mark Nevitt, a former Navy Jag and now Law professor at Emory University. Mark shares his insights on the intersection of law and climate change. They discuss how US laws were created during a much more stable climate and how the legal system has not kept up with the current climate moment. The takings clause in the US Constitution is now relevant for climate change and Mark and Doug dig into this issue. Mark also considers his military experience good preparation to get into climate adaptation. We also discuss whether judges should recuse themselves if they are climate skeptics and should we amend the US Constitution to address important adaptation issues. Also, what would happen if the President declared a national emergency around climate change. Join us for this fascinating discussion on the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of law and climate change.

Topics covered: · Mark's military background in the Navy and military justice informs his perspective on climate change adaptation. · US laws were created during a time of more stable climate, which poses legal uncertainties for climate adaptation measures. · The takings clause in the US Constitution is relevant to climate change adaptation. · Cities that commit funding for infrastructure are now liable to maintain it, even in the face of long-term climate impacts. · Climate skeptics may pose a challenge to legal decisions in climate adaptation cases, raising questions about judge recusal. · Is there a need to amend the US Constitution to address important adaptation issues? · Without a change in legal doctrine, climate adaptation will default to unmanaged retreat, exacerbating existing inequalities. · A declaration of a national emergency around climate change by the President could help to spur action on climate adaptation. · The 5th Amendment presents challenges for implementing many climate adaptation measures due to its provisions on property rights and compensation.

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Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marknevitt/@marknevitt https://twitter.com/emorylaw?lang=en

Links in this episode: Mark Nevitt Emory Profile: https://law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/nevitt-profile.html

Link to the paper The Legal Crisis Within the Climate Crisis, forthcoming in the Stanford Law Review: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4372312

Emory Climate Research Initiative: https://news.emory.edu/stories/2022/12/er_climate_initiative_02-12-2022/story.html

Emory’s Environmental Law Clinic: https://law.emory.edu/academics/clinics/faculty-led-clinics/turner-environmental-law-clinic.html

Lawfare and Just Security climate pages - https://www.lawfareblog.com/contributors/mnevitt and https://www.justsecurity.org/author/nevittmark/

How do We Manage Managed Retreat? https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/climate-adaptation-strategies-how-do-we-manage-managed-retreat/

Mark Nevitt Scholarship website on SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByA...

Next Episode

Trinidad and Tobago – Keeping History Above Water

In episode 184 of America Adapts, we’re headed to Trinidad and Tobago for the Keeping History Above Water conference. The event brought together international speakers and experts to discuss the challenges faced by island communities in the face of climate change. The goal of the conference was to advance the resilience and long-term preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's historic sites and cultural resources. Experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Cuba, as well as cultural heritage experts from the United States joined the podcast. And did you know, this beautiful island nation is famous for creating the limbo dance and steel drums!

Topics covered:

Climate change is threatening historic and coastal communities across the Caribbean region, including in Trinidad and Tobago.
The conference brought together international speakers and experts to discuss the challenges faced by island communities due to climate change.
The role of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is famous for the limbo dance and steel drums.
Advancing the resilience and long-term preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's historic sites and cultural resources. The U.S. State Department is supporting climate adaptation. Perspectives from the U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
Island communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Climate adaptation experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Cuba, as well as cultural heritage experts from the United States, share their expertise.

Experts in this Episode:

Lisa Craig – Principal The Craig Group
Cheri-Ann Pascall - Tour Guide, Trinidad & Tobago Tour Guides Association
Margaret MacDowell - Chairwoman, National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago
Martin Perschler - Program Director, U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Cleary Larkin - Acting Director, Historic Preservation Program and Preservation Institute Nantucket; Department of Urban and Regional Planning; University of Florida
Kishan Kumarsingh - Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development
Candace Bond - U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago
Dr. Jay Haviser - Director, St. Maarten Archaeological Center
Dr. Angela Schedel - Vice President, Coastal Resilience Planning at Taylor Engineering
Dr. David Guggenheim - Marine Scientist
Vernaire Bass - Manager, National Museum of Montserrat
Jeff Goodell - Author of “The Water Will Come”.
Alderman Joel Martinez - His Worship the Mayor of Port of Spain
Kara Roopsingh - Senior Heritage Preservation and Research Officer, National Trust Trinidad and Tobago