What is sustainability when on the climate roller coaster?

Abstract

This paper is about the identification of the changing world climate drivers and speculation concerning the future impact such drivers will have on countries in the southern hemisphere, especially Australia and New Zealand. A focus for the above is a case study of climate change which has induced severe hardships in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia. The authors are of the opinion this experience, in this extremely climate sensitive agricultural area, is a forerunner to what could occur to many regions in the southern hemisphere. The case study shows the vulnerability of communities to instruments of governance established during periods of stability and urges the urgent need for modified governance instruments during periods of rapid climatic change. The paper commences the discussion about the meaning, relevance and reality of sustainability for communities during times of climatic uncertainty.

Keywords:

• sustainability
• drivers
• rapid
• climate change
• water
• governance
• Australia

Acknowledgements

We thank Bendigo Advertiser (2003), Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, for publishing the Bendigo Rainfall Chart 1863–2002, Mr Frank Hill for access to his historical documents (Mr Hill is a lifetime resident and past councillor of Heathcote and lives on the eastern shore of Lake Eppalock), Mrs Evelyn Mactier for access to her personal rainfall records for Metcalfe, Coliban Water, Goulburn-Murray Water and the Eppalock Action Group for the provision of information, Professor R.L. Miles Institute for Sustainable Regional Development, Queensland for his encouragement on the issues included in this paper and The La Trobe University Bendigo for making this paper possible.

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