Australia’s climate change adaptation research and communication program, led by NCCARF (the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility), represents one of the most significant globally. As the peak national body on climate change adaptation, NCCARF is set to release the results of 140 research projects before June 2013. The information generated will help Australians understand what adaptation options are available to address future climate threats. Research covers issues related to health, ecosystems, infrastructure, agriculture, emergency management, economics and communities. 

NCCARF was set up in 2008 as an outcome from the COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. The mission of NCCARF is to lead the research community in a national interdisciplinary effort to generate the information needed by decision-makers in the public and private sectors to manage the risks of climate change impacts. The current phase of NCCARF ends on 30 June 2013. The next phase, termed NCCARF2 is in the proposal stage.

The roles of NCCARF2 would be to:

• communicate results from research programs completed in the current phase, for knowledge adoption by end users.
• generate knowledge:

• build and maintain capacity amongst users and the research community.

• Maintain science and research knowledge and capacity,
• retain credibility within the Australian adaptation community, and 
• take advantage of opportunities that emerge around project-level funding.

A core staff would be spread across communication, research and management. It would require a budget of $4 million ($2 million per year), with a further $2 million ($1 million per year) to carry out the Adaptation Network activities.

See the NCCARF2 Proposal below.