As climate change increases the risk
of bushfire weather, an important question is; what might this mean
for the resilience of communities to bushfire and in particular,
the role of a policy framework in supporting this as our climate
changes?
Fire management is inherently
complex because it involves social and ecological systems, their
interactions, and our uncertain knowledge about these factors. A
policy framework has to address these factors, alongside how
differing ideas, interests and ideologies might be considered
within any framework.
Concurrently, it is pointless to
consider a policy framework for bushfire management without
considering the implications of climate change. It is widely
argued that building social and ecological resilience will reduce
vulnerability to the increasing risk of natural hazards being
driven by climate change.
To help fire and land management
agencies understand the extent to which the existing policy
framework addresses these challenges, this research seeks to
identify the features of a policy framework that might address
those challenges.
