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Adapting to Climate Change

We can already see how climate change is starting to affect Australia. Temperatures are hotter, many parts of Australia are receiving less rain, and sea levels are rising. Even though there are lots of actions we can take to help combat climate change, we also need to think of ways we can live with these changes and safeguard the future of our continent and our planet. We can do this through adaptation.

What is adaptation?

Adaptation means making changes in our lifestyles so we can:

• adjust to any problems climate change brings
• plan and act better and more wisely in the future.

One example of adaptation is reusing grey water from washing machines for watering our gardens, or collecting stormwater for watering ovals and parks.

Another example of adaptation is planning for the floods that are more likely to happen because weather patterns are changing.

Adaptation can also mean making plans to protect our coastlines (so they are safe) if there are severe storms, or as sea levels rise even more.

There are simple things we can all do, but adaptation can also be a tricky job. We all need to understand how climate change might affect us and work out how we can deal with these challenges.

We need to help wherever we can - at home, at school and in the community.

What sort of things can Australia do?

• research into climate change and finding ways to help us adapt
• help to prepare our coastlines (and the many people who live along them) to protect them from storms
• find ways to keep producing food and other products as climate change makes it more difficult to do so
• help industries to manage and reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases
• teach people such as engineers, planners, architects and builders about adaptation in their work
• find ways to lessen Australia's water problems by encouraging us to use water more wisely, developing alternative sources of water, and allowing more rainwater to return to our rivers to make them healthier. Why not get started by checking out Ten Tips to Combat Climate Change.

Downloadable PDF

• Adapting to Climate Change (331 kb)