In Situ Adaptation to Climatic Change: Mineral Industry Responses to Extreme Flooding Events in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Extractive resource development necessitates a direct and immediate dependence upon the environment and is particularly sensitive to climate variability and change. This article examines adaptation to climatic changes within the mining industry through a case study of extreme flooding events during 2007–2008 and 2010–2011 in Queensland, Australia. With 47 of the state's 57 coal mines impacted by the 2010–2011 floods, vast infrastructure damage, lost export earnings of more than $2 billion, and consequent impacts on surrounding socioeconomic and ecological landscapes, the case demonstrates the industry's vulnerability to climatic changes and the importance of planned adaptation for its future viability. As mineral resources are embedded within the landscape, adaptation must necessarily be in situ. The article draws lessons from the case to better inform sector-wide strategies for in situ adaptation. The findings are relevant to other industry sectors, such as tourism and forestry, where geographical relocation is not an available adaptation strategy.

Keywords:

• adaptation
• climate change
• climatic variability
• floods
• mining
• Queensland
• sustainable development

Acknowledgments

We thank Laura Sonter for assistance with the drafting of figures and Professor Damian Barrett for helpful insights on the topic. The article is associated with the Australian Government's National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) project examining climate change adaptation within the Queensland mining sector (S3A FL3).

Notes

Force majeure refers to a contractual clause where mining corporations announce temporary closure of their operations for reasons beyond their control (in the present case, due to extreme flood events).

Survey participants were members of the AusIMM, representing professionals associated with mining, exploration, and minerals processing industries.

The QRC identified eight broad themes of likely concerns. These were (in no particular order) global macroeconomy, input costs, social license to operate, skilled employees, climate change, industrial relations, uncertain regulation, and insufficient government resources.