Scientell
ScientellScientell facilitated two climate change workshops in Canberra to help establish a climate change adaptation research program to address risks in the Murray Darling Basin. We distilled the findings from the workshops to produce an accessible report for decision-makers.
Client: Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)
Audience: Climate adaptation researchers and decision-makers
Description
MDBA ran two national workshops in mid-2019 to engage with the science community to assess climate change risks and to plan adaptation responses in the Murray Darling Basin. Approximately 35 researchers and practitioners attended the first of these two full-day workshops, which examined the overarching approach to climate change risk assessment, and the identification of vulnerabilities. Some 40 researchers and practitioners attended the second workshop, which examined water management strategies to assess climate risks to social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects of the Basin.
Scientell helped MDBA plan the workshops. We facilitated the workshops to guide technical discussions and elicit advice from meeting participants, and documented the discussions. Scientell produced two reports (one for each workshop) on outcomes and participant recommendations, and compiled the outcomes of both workshops into a draft work program capturing recommendations on the direction of the MDBA’s climate change program.
In addition to presentations, break-out groups and plenary sessions, Scientell facilitated a group exercise to prompt participants to prioritise climate risks and plan adaptation pathways. Table groups were presented with examples of relevant vulnerabilities of the Basin and had to work together to rank the importance of each vulnerability and how to address them.
April–July 2019