Communicating Climate Change

Climate variability and climate change are critical issues facing agriculture and rural communities in Australia. BCG, in collaboration with Land and Water Australia, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Bureau of Meteorology and Meat and Livestock Australia, are undertaking a ‘Communicating Climate Change’ project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The project aims to improve the understanding of the implications of climate change on farm businesses and the environment by increasing the knowledge of the professionals that support farmers.

The project, delivered in two stages, will be run in three regions across Australia:
  • Wimmera Mallee region of Victoria,
  • medium rainfall zone of South Australia and
  • the north-east region of the northern agricultural zone of Western Australia.

'Masters of Climate' Workshops

The first stage of the project was a program to support key people from grower groups, state agencies, NRM organisations, private sector and agribusiness to work with leading experts on climate change to gain knowledge and work towards becoming 'Masters of Climate'. The program delivered regionally specific information, co-ordinated communication materials and tools for management, with support from scientists and organisations involved in climate change.

The Masters of Climate Workshops were held in May and June 2008. Click on the links to view the program and access presentations and factsheets in each region:

Farmer Forums

The Victorian Farmer Forum at the 2008 BCG Expo where farmers listened to Peter McIntosh, a climate scientist, conduct a session on climate forecasting. The second stage of the project was farmer forums, targeted at climate change impacts, mitigation, adaptation and opportunities at the regional and farm scale.

The Farmer Forums were held in July and August 2008. Click on the links to view the program and access presentations and factsheets in each region:

The key issues addressed by the project include: understanding climate change; implications on weeds, pests, current management practices, and farm viability; existing and potential policies; tools for managing change; adaptation responses and costs; and mitigation strategies. The project will use assessments of climate variability and scenarios for climate change in terms and facts that are useful for enterprise decisions and on farm practices.

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