There is a wealth of available data and information that tells us how people and communities may be affected by climate change. But when it comes to implementing adaptation response, where should this action be focussed?

The South Australian Climate Change Adaptation Framework describes a regional approach to adaptation, including undertaking regional integrated vulnerability assessments. In nearly all regions of South Australia, supporting people with vulnerabilities has been identified as a valued aspect of their region to include in the assessment process. 

In these regions, characteristics that make people vulnerable were considered and the integrated vulnerability assessments calculated the relative vulnerability of particular sectors of the community including people requiring assistance with core activities, elderly people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and low income households. At a regional scale, some community sectors were found to be relatively more vulnerable to particular climate hazards and appropriate adaptation responses were identified.

But where in the region should the identified adaptation responses be focussed to have the greatest likelihood of increasing resilience? Across any region, there is likely to be a diverse distribution of people with vulnerabilities. Spatial analysis can be used to identity the spatial variability of vulnerability to particular hazards.  In the Western Adelaide region census data and hazard data (including flood inundation and sea level rise) were used to identify “hot spots” of vulnerability to particular hazards.  This presentation will show how these mapping outputs could be used to inform future management response and where to focus future adaptation action.