Practical precautions, reasonable responses: How South Australia's planning regime adapts to the coastal impacts of climate change

摘要

The South Australian planning regime considers the anticipated coastal impacts of climate change (increased storm surge, coastal erosion and sea level rise) to be a serious threat to the State's natural and urban environments. It adopts the notions of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and the precautionary principle by accepting climate change as a certain phenomenon and facilitating the implementation of adaptive and protective measures. However, the regime limits the availability of these measures to new developments. It is argued that this "narrow" approach to adaptation reflects the balancing of competing factors consistent with ESD and recognises the practical challenges of implementing a comprehensive policy response in light of resourcing, potential risks and liabilities, the dearth of evidence and climate change perceptions. Moreover, it represents a reasonable governmental response to coastal climate change which influences the potential civil liability of local and State governments for future climate change-based harm.