The Victorian Government is acting now to support primary industries to adapt to a changing climate, and is seeking public feedback on a draft plan that will reduce climate change risks, build resilience and harness opportunities.
Victoria's primary industries are major export and wealth generators and employ more than 190,000 people, over 80 per cent of them in regional Victoria.
The primary production system includes agriculture, plantation forestry, productive fisheries and the infrastructure, workforce and communities supporting them.
It covers the full value chain – key inputs, harvest, production and processing – everything that gets products to market.
Victorians are encouraged to have their say on the draft Primary Production Adaptation Action Plan (AAP) which has been designed to address the three main types of climate change risk facing the system:
- capacity to respond to current climate change risks and vulnerabilities and manage new risks
- the increased scale and frequency of extreme events like bushfires and floods
- the challenge of making fundamental changes to current ways of doing things.
The draft Primary Production AAP seeks to build on the work that primary industries are already doing to adapt to climate change.
It will enable partnerships to stimulate new research and innovation, boost capacity across the system, and build capabilities within government to respond to the changing climate.
Early and effective action is essential to prepare for and manage the impacts of climate change and make our industries, regions and communities more resilient.
Public consultation on this draft plan is important and provides an opportunity for industry, community members and organisations to help develop – and then implement – the actions.
Have your say until Friday 6 August at the Engage Victoria website.
You're also invited join a webinar to discuss the draft plan and hear from thought leader and climate futures expert, Professor Lauren Rickards, on the key climate change issues facing the primary industries. Register to attend the free webinar at 12 pm on Wednesday 21 July via the Eventbrite page.
