TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Challenges and opportunities for Australian local governments in governing climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction integration
JO  - International journal of disaster resilience in the built environment
A1  - Forino, Giuseppe
A1  - Von Meding, Jason K.
A1  - Brewer, Graham John
SP  - 258
EP  - 272
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
N2  - This paper aims to explore challenges and opportunities for Australian local governments (LGs) in governance of climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) integration.         Design/methodology/approach        The paper identifies three Australian LGs which are subjected to potential climate change-related hazards. Semi-structured interviews with staff officers of the selected LGs and supporting organizations have been conducted to collect and analyze primary data.         Findings        The findings reveal that emerging challenges in governance of CCA and DRR integration include the political sensitiveness of climate change, uncertainty and standstill because of the vagueness by higher government levels, competing interests between LGs' departments and communication breakdowns because of scepticism and the use of jargon. Meanwhile, the findings reveal that emerging opportunities include the promotion of participation mechanisms in planning, the creation of partnerships with local stakeholders and the use of coordination organizations and platforms. Exploring these challenges and opportunities represents a key step to strengthen governance mechanisms at a local level.         Research limitations/implications        The paper is based on a limited number (3) of Australian case studies with a limited number (15) of interviews. Further insights could be gained by analyzing more Australian LGs, involving a higher number of participants, and by using complementary research methods and data (survey and questionnaires) about experiences of other local stakeholders.         Originality/value        The paper is one of the few exploring challenges and opportunities of Australian LGs in governance of CCA and DRR integration in Australia and discusses them in terms of the potential to strengthen governance mechanisms within Australian LGs.     Keywords:      Risk governance, Climate change adaptation, Climate change, Disaster risk reduction, Local governments, Australia  Type:      Research Paper  Publisher:      Emerald Publishing Limited  Received:      29 May 2017  Revised:      29 March 2018, 12 April 2018  Accepted:      12 April 2018  Acknowledgments:        The authors warmly thank all the interviewees for their time and availability in taking part into the research. The authors also thank the anonymous referees for their comments. Giuseppe Forino is supported by a PhD scholarship from the University of Newcastle.   Copyright:      © Emerald Publishing Limited 2018      Published by Emerald Publishing Limited<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1759-5908
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2017-0038
ID  - ref1
ER  -