This report examines the underlying vulnerabilities, adaptive capacities and population movements of Indigenous people in four communities in northern Australia – Broome in Western Australia; Maningrida and Ngukurr in the Northern Territory; and Wujal Wujal in Queensland. Northern Australia is highly exposed to a number of natural hazards including: cyclones and associated storm surges, riverine and flash flooding, heatwaves, coastal erosion, bushfires and drought – some of which might be exacerbated by climate change. With an approximate population of 160,000 Indigenous people (29% of the total Indigenous population of Australia) it is critical to develop a multifaceted understanding of how climate change will affect Indigenous communities in northern Australia. Moreover, decisions about how to support Indigenous communities to adapt to and reduce their risks from climate change impacts must be informed by greater understandings of their current adaptive capacities, e.g. why they may be vulnerable or resilient, how they have coped with and adapted to past environmental changes, who is likely to leave, stay or return, and how sustainable communities can be maintained.,
Notes
Logo on cover: NCCARF National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility -- Risk Frontiers, Macquarie University -- Charles Darwin University,
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT),
Table of contents
Executive summary -- Northern Australia demographics -- Climate, hazards and change in northern Australia -- Case study: Broome, Western Australia -- Case study: Maningrida, Northern Territory -- Case study: Ngukurr, Northern Territory -- Case study: Wujal Wujal, Queensland -- Demographic history and population volatility -- Land use planning's role in climate change adaptation -- Indigenous views of change and risk -- Children's understanding of weather and seasons in Broome -- Discussion -- Recommendations and conclusions -- References A-B,