Local community approaches to climate change

At this stage in Earth’s history, the way society approaches climate change seems to matter just as much as the science. 

The Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) Masters student Suzanne Dunford explores the issue in her recently conferred thesis, The Governance of Local Climate Commons.  

Here, Suzanne explains her research into local community approaches to climate change impacts and responses…

What is your research about?

My research looks at how we as communities make decisions about the impacts and responses to global climate change, at the hyper-local scale. I examined the cooling provided by the gardens and green space of the Waverley local government area to understand how the climate adaptation services of urban trees and vegetation could be better supported and acknowledged through collective governance. 

Why is your research topic important to you? Can you shed some light on how you got into the field? 

For me, adapting to life in the Anthropocene means that social dimensions of climate change matter as much as the science. Having worked in both state and local government, I have lamented a lack of focus on the urgent need to improve and enable climate adaptation governance. My thesis allowed me to explore this theoretically as well as practically. 

Communities need to be empowered to adapt and prepare for localised climate impacts, wherever they live. Local government and hyper-local networks are well positioned to collaboratively achieve this, but institutional and resourcing changes are also required. 

– Suzanne Dunford, ISF Masters student

What impact do you hope to make with this research? 

As noted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there are no physical or environmental barriers to responding to climate change. But increasingly severe and concurrent climate events demonstrate that relying solely on governments is already insufficient and dangerous. 

Communities need to be empowered to adapt and prepare for localised climate impacts, wherever they live. Local government and hyper-local networks are well positioned to collaboratively achieve this, but institutional and resourcing changes are also required.

My research recommends that applying and deepening the constitutional principal of subsidiarity [where communities are empowered to identify and manage climate risks locally] can achieve effective governance of local climate commons. 

Why did you choose to undertake your research at ISF?

ISF provided me the flexibility, resources, and expertise I needed to investigate an expansive range of transdisciplinary ideas and literature. Delving into ISF’s pioneering body of work in climate adaptation provided useful tools, ideas and opportunities to support my Masters journey – all while making great friends, a few mistakes and my family proud.