August 17, 2026
Climate Adaptation 2026 … We are pleased to announce that the Climate Adaptation 2026 draft program is now available! With almost 300 presentations, posters and videos showcase the breadth and depth of adaptation work underway across Australia and our region. From national climate risk assessments, finance and investment, and governance reform through to heat resilience, infrastructure planning, community wellbeing, nature-based solutions and climate disclosure, the program focuses on turning knowledge into action. Delegates will hear from leading researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders sharing practical lessons on building resilience in the face of growing climate risks. Visit the program >
How collaboration helps Northern Rivers communities plan for biodiversity adaptation … When a regional research project set out to help conservation practitioners and biodiversity managers across the Northern Rivers prepare for the impacts of a rapidly changing climate, one thing quickly became clear: they were going to need a lot of different voices in the conversation! Read the story >
A guide to adapt the World Heritage Climate Change Toolkit to other Protected Areas in Australia …This guide is adapted from the Australian Government’s Climate change toolkit for World Heritage properties in Australia (the toolkit). The toolkit was developed to support climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning for World Heritage properties in Australia. It provides a 4-step method to scoping an approach, identifying climate change impacts, considering vulnerability and risk, and planning for adaptation. This method is suitable for managers of other heritage places and protected areas. Read the toolkit >
Did you miss our webinar last month? … Australia’s buildings are designed and operated based on weather assumptions from the past, but what happens when those assumptions no longer hold? The NESP Climate Systems Hub Building for the Future project is tackling this challenge head-on, developing new future climate files that allow building simulation tools to model how structures will perform under the likely conditions of coming decades, including under extreme conditions such as heatwaves. Watch the recording >
El Nino and La Nina are not mirror images of drought and rain – but how do they differ? … El Niño and La Niña have an almost mythical status when it comes to Australia’s climate. Their potential arrival is heralded in news reports as a turn to either a drier Australia or a wetter Australia. This could be all you need to know to give you an idea about what could be down the track, but if you needed more detail to help you plan for the coming months rain, it’s important to really know the extent of the impact that El Niño or La Niña can have on Australia’s rainfall. Because although El Niño and La Niña are known to be ‘climate drivers’, as we’ll show by their impact on rainfall probabilities, a term more aligned with the times, like ‘climate influencer’ could be more apt. Read this latest research >
News from across the network …
- Effective climate adaptation starts with rethinking how we manage land and water.… Climate change is reshaping the landscapes, waters and ecosystems we depend on. New AdaptNSW land and water management resources help practitioners take a Country-centred, values-based approach to adaptation, recognising that we are part of Country, not separate from it, and focusing on protecting what matters most as conditions change. Bringing together climate science and practical guidance, the resources support informed decision-making through practical tools, case studies and the 6As of Adaptation framework. Explore the resources >
- SAVE THE DAY: Key thinkers forum on First Nations action for healthy country and community … Tuesday October 13 2026. Facilitated by Professor Tom Calma AO, and building on the 2023 Forum, this event will again prioritise Indigenous voices by offering an opportunity to discuss important research and issues on air quality and health affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Forum will welcome community members, service providers and researchers working across a broad range of topics, including: climate injustice; healthy housing; risk reduction and communication methods; and indoor and outdoor air quality, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. More about this event >