Natural Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026

Victoria's natural environments are already being impacted by climate change. These impacts are expected to worsen through this century. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can limit climate change and its impacts. Yet, some climate change is now unavoidable and will occur even if emissions are significantly reduced.

Adaptation is how we adjust actions and decisions to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. This could mean planting trees that are better suited to the dryer and hotter conditions expected in the future or moving populations of species to areas that will be more resistant to climate change impacts. Acting now will help to reduce the impacts on the environment, as well as our society and the economy.

The Natural Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026 (PDF, 13.6 MB) will help to improve how we manage Victoria’s natural environment in response to climate change impacts. Action on climate change is supported by the Climate Change Act 2017 (the Act). The Act requires Adaptation Action Plans to be prepared for seven systems. These are the Natural Environment, Transport, Primary Production, Education and Training, Built Environment, Water Cycle and Health and Human Services. The Adaptation Action Plans are a key tool for delivering the Victorian Government’s adaptation priorities. The Adaptation Action Plans do not address action to reduce emissions. The Climate Change Strategy outlines the Victorian Government’s roadmap to net-zero emissions and its adaptation priorities for the next five years.

The Natural Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026 complements six Regional Adaptation Strategies. The Regional Adaptation Strategies are five-year strategies developed by the community and other stakeholders. They address the unique challenges and opportunities that climate change brings to Victoria’s regions.

Natural Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026

Supporting documents

Glossary

This document explains some of the key terms used in the Natural Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026.

Glossary (PDF, 111.3 KB)
Glossary - accessible (DOCX, 283.6 KB)

Roles and responsibilities

The natural environment sector includes many different agencies, departments and non-government organisations that play roles at different scales and locations across Victoria. This document highlights some of the many organisations that make up the natural environment sector.

Roles and responsibilities (PDF, 92.8 KB)
Roles and responsibilities - accessible (DOCX, 277.9 KB)

Cross-system risks

Many risks that arise from climate change will have consequences across several different areas of government. This document highlights some of these risks.

Cross-system risks (PDF, 157.1 KB)
Cross-system risks - accessible (DOCX, 296.7 KB)

Stocktake

This document provides a brief look at some of the programs, policies and strategies currently being undertaken across the natural environment sector that contribute to climate change adaptation.

Stocktake (PDF, 308.5 KB)
Stocktake - accessible (DOCX, 293.9 KB)

Further reading

This document provides a list of further reading to learn more about adaptation and the natural environment.

Further reading (PDF, 193.6 KB)
Further reading - accessible (DOCX, 294.3 KB)