Call for submissions on Senate inquiry into climate change impacts

The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee has called for submissions to its wide-ranging inquiry into current and future impacts of climate change on housing, buildings and infrastructure.

The inquiry will take into account:

• recent and projected changes in sea level rises, and storm surge intensity;

• recent and projected changes in temperature and precipitation;

• recent and projected changes in extreme weather, including heatwaves, bushfires, floods, and cyclones;

• recent and projected changes in natural coastal defence systems including coral reefs, kelp and mangrove forests;

• the impact of these changes on the vulnerability of infrastructure in coastal areas;

• the impact of these changes on water supply and sewage treatment systems;

• the impact of these changes on transportation, including railways, roads and airports;

• the impact of these changes on energy infrastructure, including generators and transmission and distribution lines;

• the impact of these changes on health, education and social services infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and aged care;

• the impact of these changes on private and public housing;

• the impact of these changes on public recreation and tourism facilities;

• the impact on financing and insurance arrangements for housing, buildings and infrastructure;

• the adequacy of current state and Commonwealth policies to assess, plan and implement adaptation plans and improved resilience of infrastructure; and

• any other related matters.

Submissions are due by July 21, 2017.

More information is available here,