Extreme weather events pose a significant threat to the health and welfare of Australian communities. Climate change could substantially increase these risks by raising the frequency and intensity of extreme events, and affecting the capacity of communities to respond and recover.

Effective planning, response and recovery mechanisms can reduce the costs of climate change and extreme events. At this two day workshop, invited attendees will engage with the issue of how best to structure these mechanisms, placing a particular emphasis on the legal and institutional dimensions of adaptation and emergency management.

The workshop presented a range of formal papers, informal presentations and panel discussions. Throughout the two days, all participants were encouraged to participate in discussion and deliberation enabling the exchange of information to help improve both the design and implementation of policy, and the conduct of adaptation and emergency management research.