Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Program (VCCAP)

The Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Program (VCCAP) is an initiative under the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Action Statement (2006) (external site), which includes actions for understanding the potential impacts of climate change and developing Victoria’s ability to respond.

In collaboration with VCCAP, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has developed a research program called DPI VCCAP ensuring Victoria’s agricultural industries can adapt to a changing climate. The aim of the research program is to increase the knowledge and capabilities of government, the agriculture sector and farming businesses to undertake sound and informed planning and policy decision that maximise the benefits and minimise the economic, social and environmental costs of climate change.

DPI VCCAP Research and Development

The influence of climate change on agricultural systems is very complex, requiring a multidisciplinary research approach to develop understanding of the challenges and opportunities. DPI VCCAP has six themes of research and development designed to be integrated and interdependent to ensure a systemic understanding of climate change is developed and communicated.

DPI VCCAP has four key questions guiding its research:

What are the impacts of climate change on agriculture in regional Victoria?

With specific reference to pilot region in South West Victoria.

What are the climate change adaptation options and likely responses for /of the primary industries in regional Victoria?
What are appropriate government policy responses to assist the primary industries to adapt to climate change?
How do we ensure effective communication and utilisation of the information developed by DPI VCCAP?
Rainclouds near Maldon
Rainclouds near Maldon

The key outcome for DPI VCCAP will be the government and the primary industry sector equipped with appropriate knowledge, guidance and tools to support informed and holistic decisions in relation to climate change and the future sustainability and growth of Victoria’s primary industries.

Climate change impacts and adaptation responses for South-West Victoria’s primary industries - A DPI VCCAP Discussion Paper

To communicate some of the key findings of DPI VCCAP, a discussions paper has been produced. This paper 'Climate change impacts and adaptation responses for South-West Victoria’s primary industries - A DPI VCCAP Discussion Paper' reflects the multifaceted nature of climate change adaptation, incorporating information from a range of disciplines.

The paper, which focuses on South West Victoria, explores research into the biophysical impacts of climate change, including groundwater, agriculture, grains, pasture-based industries and forestry. This is followed by an exploration of socio-economic elements including adaptive capacity, stakeholder engagement, communication and policy research as methods of supporting adaptation.

DPI VCCAP Newsletters

Number 5 - June 2010

In this issue

Scenarios Development
Expanding our ability to visualise climate change futures
Adaptive capacity in the south-west Victorian dairy industry
Actions government can take to assist primary industries - A dairy industry case study
DPI VCCAP evaluated
DPI survey of 1500 Victorian farmers on climate and emissions
Barwon South West (BSW) Climate Change survey and Forum results
Search and discovery of VCCAP's climate change simulation modelling
The DPI VCCAP Forum 2010
CATCLIM: The Catchment Analysis Toolkit (CAT) climate change module
VCCAP Newsletter - Number 5 - June 2010

Further Information

Science Leader: Dr Richard Eckard.
DPI Ellinbank. Future Farming Systems Research and The University of Melbourne.
Email: DPI.VCCAP@dpi.vic.gov.au
Websites: Victorian Government Adaptation key projects and activities (external link)

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