Recently we undertook a survey of our local government clients to better understand how they are managing climate risk.

Climate change is one of the most complex and urgent issues of our times. The implications of changing weather patterns across our communities and cities, and affecting our livelihoods, are unfolding each day. The repercussions are vast, making our response to it all the more susceptible to diverse passionate opinion and debate.

Every way you look at it there are competing perspectives and balances to be reached. The challenges are often portrayed in simplistic terms of jobs or environment. However, there are many more dimensions to a challenge that affects almost every aspect of our modern economy and social structures.

Local government is at the coalface where the expectations of community, business and governments meet and the needs of the environment are directly impacted. Local government is a vehicle through which policies relating to planning, risk mitigation, environmental degradation and the maintenance of our social fabric are implemented. In that position, the views and actions of local government on climate change, risk, mitigation, transition and adaptation are important.