New publication outlines climate challenges
Australia’s ratification of the Paris Agreement means we are committed to “holding the increase in global temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.” [1]
The property industry has accepted this challenge and is committed to playing its part in reducing Australia’s emissions. But the effects of climate change will still be felt. A report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[2] details the impacts of climate change to date and the future risks from a warming planet. These impacts will depend strongly on the severity of future climate change and will vary in nature and magnitude across the globe.
Early action to adapt to these impacts is essential for populations around the world and Sydney is no exception. At a local level, Sydney will face a particular set of acute shocks and long-term stresses for which we need to prepare. Consideration of these impacts should be at the heart of future new developments.
A new publication, developed by the Property Council’s NSW Asset Management and Sustainable Development Committee, identifies ‘extreme heat and bushfires’, ‘extreme rainfall and flooding’ and ‘storms & coastal inundation’ as high-risk challenges for Sydney.
With a focus on the built environment, the publication provides practical guidance for building owners to better equip their assets to face these extreme weather events. It also provides applied, real-life case studies drawn from our members’ portfolios to illustrate the information.
Building owners and managers will find the information contained in the handbook useful and will be able to implement practical measures as a result. Special thanks to AECOM for their significant contribution.
The publication can be read HERE .
[1] http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/international/paris-agreement
[2] Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Working Group II of the IPCC