State Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings recently announced the appointment of Professor Rod Keenan, former Head of Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science in the University of Melbourne’s School of Land and Environment as Director of the centre.

“Adapting to climate change does not mean we give up on efforts to reduce carbon emissions. However, it is likely that a certain amount of warming is already 'locked-in' to the climate system and adaptation means effectively responding to those unavoidable climate change impacts,” says Professor Keenan.

“The centre aims to bring together expertise from Victorian universities to identify future risks, reduce uncertainties and analyse options for adapting to climate change.

 “We will work closely with the Government and communities to identify the challenges posed by climate change and undertake research to inform Government policy and community responses. It is an important new research field, both locally and globally.”

The Climate Change Adaptation Research Centre will be coordinated by the University of Melbourne. Initial member universities include Monash, La Trobe and RMIT Universities.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings says the new centre fosters a collaborative effort between Government and the Victorian university sector to undertake vital climate change adaptation research.

The research program for the centre will include annual forums to showcase research, a research grants program to complement the national adaptation effort, regional think tanks and a visiting fellowship program to draw on international expertise.