In preparing the adaptation plan and delivering for the adaptation options, Councils may consider the following:
- Align the adaptation plan with other climate change or municipality-wide plans
- Acknowledge the links between climate change and other challenges and opportunities the municipality faces (to position the plan more strategically)
- Consider establishing a project team to develop the adaptation plan and maintain the plan beyond its initial completion
- Consider establishing an engagement strategy and relevant tools to raise the level of awareness for climate adaptation amongst Council staff and external stakeholders (e.g. community, industry)
- Consider establishing processes to ensure climate change adaptation is considered in all Council decisions
- Obtain senior management buy-in and support for the climate adaptation plan and underlying actions
- Consider linking the climate adaptation risk register to Council’s existing risk management
- Consider involving industry, business, academia and all tiers of government in identifying and prioritising responses
- Consider creating a register of current adaptation actions to avoid duplication of efforts or for newly identified actions to build on
- Draw on the experience of other municipalities (nationally and internationally), and consider whether these are transferrable in time and space to each municipality’s situation
- Plan for uncertainty by identifying actions that can be readjusted as new information comes to hand (e.g. think in terms of sequence of actions; long-term actions that can be build on short-term actions; actions that do not undermine the ability to adapt over the long term).
Adaptation plan template
Appendix 4 - Municipal risks by sector
