Local Government NSW and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) have published the results from ARTD’s survey of councils’ progress and needs in adapting to climate change. The online survey, conducted in June 2015, received 186 responses covering 74 per cent of all NSW councils. Local Government NSW presented the findings at the National Climate Adaptation conference on 7 July 2016. The survey, which followed two surveys conducted in 2010, showed councils’ capacity to assess and plan for climate change impact had increased. In the 2015 survey, over two-thirds of respondents (69%) reported having experienced impacts from climate change in their Local Government Area. Councils welcome any kind of support to prepare and respond to climate change impacts, with increased interest in technical, high-quality information compared to 2010, and growing interest in tools, such as costing of adaptation actions.

The survey can also be accessed from OEH Adapt NSW website: here or here.