Local Council risk of liability in the face of climate change - resolving uncertainties
Local governments are at the forefront of responding to the impacts of climate change. Higher temperatures, sea level rise, increased frequency and/or intensity of severe weather events and other natural hazards all present serious challenges to local governments and test their capacity to adapt to a changing climate./p>
Prepared by international law firm Baker & McKenzie, this jointly funded DCCEE–Australian Local Government Association report was commissioned to assist local governments to:
- Identify areas of potential legal risk and liability in relation to climate change, particularly in coastal areas
- Identify legal or other strategies to mitigate these risks
- Identify where legislation or policy frameworks create barriers to effective adaptation or promote maladaptation
- Provide an assessment of areas where a national approach could reduce or remove these risks to councils.