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RMIT to host national climate change adaptation research
RMIT University will host national research into how climate change will impact on
disaster management and emergency services – and what can be done about it.
Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, announced the $2
million project today. Funding will come from the Federal Government, RMIT and
national partners.
The research forms part of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research
Programme, which aims to prepare Australian governments and vulnerable
industries and communities for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said:
“Climate change poses complex challenges in Australia. I am delighted that RMIT
expertise will play its part in solving those challenges.
“The work will be conducted within the Global Cities Research Institute, one of four
centres of research focus and excellence within RMIT.
“This project is precisely the kind of multidisciplinary research that the Institutes
were established to foster.”
The project will be headed by Professor John Handmer, research leader of the
Human Security Program, Global Cities Research Institute, and Director of the
Centre for Risk and Community Safety in RMIT’s School of Mathematics and
Geospatial Science.
Professor Handmer is a leading expert on bushfires and emergency management
and co-author of the Handbook of Disaster Policies and Institutions (Earthscan).
“We already know that Australia is all too prone to bushfires and that this risk is
increasing as global warming affects local weather patterns,” he said. “Climate
change is increasing uncertainty about the future, and emergency management is
about building our capacity and resilience to cope with that uncertainty.
“Our successful bid involved many universities and fire and emergency services
from across Australia. I thank them for their support and look forward to working
with them and researchers from RMIT to meet this challenge.”
For interviews or comment: Professor John Handmer, (03) 9925 2307 or 0428
356 423.
For general media enquiries, RMIT Media and Communications, David Glanz,
(03) 9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
30 October, 2008
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