The built environment industry has called for a stronger role for government to improve the resilience of Australia’s urban communities against extreme weather events and predicted future climate change.

Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) Climate Change Task Group last week launched the Policy Framework for Climate Change Adaptation in the Built Environment.

The ten-point framework provides a blueprint for the delivery of effective adaptation strategies.

David Parken, Chair of the Climate Change Task Group and CEO of the Australian Institute of Architects, launched the framework during the BEMP (Built Environment Meets Parliament) 2012 summit in Canberra last week.

“The experts agree that climate change is happening and Australia, with its experience  of floods, droughts, storms, and bushfires, can anticipate an increase in general temperatures and an upsurge in extreme weather events which all have an impact on our buildings and communities,” he said.

“While industry and the community have their roles to play, it is government, the manager of Australia’s regulatory and public policy systems, that needs to show leadership. This document outlines effective steps the government can take to protect Australia’s economic and environmental sustainability.”

ASBEC released a statement saying that the predominant focus of public policy discussion to date has been on mitigation and greenhouse gas abatement through regulation and placing a price on carbon. It said that despite some positive steps by government to address mitigation, adaptation remains low on the public policy agenda.

A policy framework is necessary to support the owners, managers, and inhabitants of our built environment – our buildings, precincts, and communities – to make their regions resilient to the effects of climate change.

One of the key elements of the framework is the establishment of a National Built Environment Adaptation Council to facilitate consultation between industries, government and communities, sponsor research and be a driver for change.

ASBEC President, Tom Roper stated that “by implementing adaptation strategies now governments and individuals will benefit in the longer term and a central body such as a National Built Environment Adaptation Council would help deliver these changes now and in the future.”

“We will  be able to minimise the adverse impacts experienced during extreme weather events – including death, displacement, mental distress and disruption to economic and other services.’

“Suburbs and buildings are still being designed and created based on past climatic experience when we should be thinking of how they will respond to future climatic events, so we can be resilient in 20, 30, 40 years down the track,” Roper said.

Consult Australia CEO, Megan Motto said that the report marks a crucial first step towards genuine and effective collaboration between government and industry as we adapt our built environment to climate changes already forecast.

“The Australian Government has shown courage in pursuing an aggressive plan to support carbon mitigation, but has not taken the steps necessary to ensure our nation is resilient to future climate change,” said Motto.

“What we need, and what the ASBEC report encourages, is for the Government to lead a cross-sector approach to coordinate and prioritise the delivery of adaptation initiatives nation-wide.”

The introduction of the ASBEC Policy Framework follows the abandonment of the Government's Tax Breaks for Green Buildings initiative, and the axing of $15.2 million from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in the 2012-13 Federal Budget.

“Abandoning the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings was a short sighted decision which completely fails to realise the significant opportunity to reduce emissions through energy efficiency gains in the buildings sector,” said Motto.

“I hope to see the ASBEC Policy Framework refocus our Governments' attention on the substantial opportunities for the built environment to contribute to an effective and long-term response to climate change."

Full report and framework at www.asbec.com.au