Innovation and deadlock in governing disasters and climate change collaboratively - Lessons from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia

Bibliographic Data

ID22028079
AuthorsRebecca Mcnaught (0000-0002-9393-6398, The University of Sydney, corresponding author), J Nalau (0000-0001-6581-3967, Griffith University), Rob Hales (0000-0002-4758-853X, Griffith University), Emma Pittaway (The University of Sydney), John Handmer (0000-0002-6674-7946, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), Jean Renouf (0000-0002-3558-5040, Southern Cross University)
Year2024
Volume105
Pages104366
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2212-4209
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104366
OpenAlexW4392559333
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited46

Both scholars and global policy point to the need for, and effectiveness of, locally-led and collaborative disaster and climate change practices. However, there is a need for analysing how these collaborative approaches are developed and used in practice in different contexts. This paper outlines the use of collaborative approaches by a climate change and disaster community of practice across seven local government areas in the Northern Rivers region, New South Wales, Australia. The region has experienced multiple large-scale flood and bushfire disasters since 2017. This ethnographic study uses established collaborative governance and adaptive governance theoretical frameworks to draw findings from: lived experiences of researchers, 22 interviews with diverse stakeholder groups, in-person and online events and the first author's research diary. The findings indicate that collaborative practice in response to disasters and climate change has resulted in both effective outcomes and multi-dimensional challenges, which have lasting implications for communities across the Northern Rivers region. Three critical leverage points for enhanced collaboration and effectiveness were identified. First, improved use and flow of information such as climate projections and place- and needs-based information. Second, mindset shifts that value community knowledge and contributions, and improved practice through enhancing skills in community development and community-led recovery in disaster and climate change practitioners. Lastly, collectively moving from reactive to proactive responses to climate change and disasters. These insights provide an opportunity for improving the design of community-based risk reduction programs and multi-stakeholder governance arrangements into the future, in the state of New South Wales and beyond

Business · Climate change · Collaborative governance · Corporate governance · Disaster risk reduction · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Mindset · Political science · Public relations · Stakeholder · Community Development and Social Impact · Disaster Management and Resilience · Flood Risk Assessment and Management