Sustainable cities and coasts

Flagship researchers are developing planning, design, infrastructure and management solutions to help Australia’s cities and coasts adapt to a changing climate.

• 18 January 2008 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Cities and climate change
• Urban areas, urgent challenges 
• Climate adaptation research

Cities and climate change

Climate change threatens the cities and fast urbanising coasts where more than 90 per cent of Australia's population lives.

Storm surge and rising sea levels endanger the 711 000 addresses that lie within three kilometres of the coast and less than six metres above sea level.

Weather-related disasters are doing increasing damage to our water, energy, transport, buildings and telecommunications infrastructure. Bushfires rage at the urban fringe. Heat stress, vector borne and other climate related diseases pose health risks.  

These add to our cities' significant sustainability challenges, including urban sprawl, population growth, pollution and the loss of biodiversity.

Urban areas, urgent challenges

We need to understand and plan for the likely local impacts of climate change.

• prepare for coastal inundation due to sea level rise and storm surge
• prepare for more frequent or severe storms, cyclones, hail events and floods
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions from homes, buildings and transport
• reduce pressure on water supplies
• manage heightened risk of bushfires at the urban fringe
• understand climate-related health risks including heat stress and vector borne diseases.

CSIRO has a strong track record in delivering scientific solutions to urban sustainability challenges.

Through the Climate Adaptation Flagship, we are applying those skills and experience to help Australian cities and coastal communities prepare for the impacts of climate changes, while also reducing our urban greenhouse gas emissions and improving long term sustainability.

Climate adaptation research

Flagship researchers are giving Australian governments, communities and industry, the knowledge to effectively adapt to future urban climates.

Planning for sustainable urban renewal of East Lake

The East Lake precinct in Canberra is the focus of a new partnership project between CSIRO and the ACT Government to showcase innovative approaches to sustainable urban renewal.

Your development: creating sustainable neighbourhoods

Your Development is a website created to help land developers, architects and urban planners create climate-adapted, sustainable Australian suburbs.

Mapping Climate Change Vulnerability in the Sydney Coastal Councils Region

The summary report ‘Mapping Climate Change Vulnerability in the Sydney Coastal Councils Region’ has been produced by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) and the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, in collaboration with the University of the Sunshine Coast. 

Understanding building infrastructure performance in bushfires

From the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires to the present, all bushfires involving significant house loss have been surveyed by CSIRO bushfire researchers.

Engaging urban communities and built environment design professionals in projects that recognise their knowledge and value is crucial to this research.

Find out more about the work of Climate Adaptation Flagship.