Planning for Climate Change: Resilient and Sustainable Urban Futures 

(Course Convenor: Emeritus Professor Barbara Norman)

Expression of Interest now open

Cities are at the forefront of two defining global challenges: climate change and urbanisation. They are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, while also facing increasing exposure to climate risks, extreme weather and long-term sustainability pressures. As urban populations continue to grow, the need for informed, forward-looking planning has never been greater.

Planning for Climate Change: Resilient and Sustainable Urban Futures is a professional short course designed to help participants understand the relationship between climate change and cities, examine leading policy and practice responses, and explore practical pathways towards more resilient and sustainable urban futures.

Register your Expression of Interest to be the first to hear about course dates, program details and enrolment information.

Submit your Expression of Interest

Overview

This course explores how governments, industry and practitioners can respond to the growing challenge of planning for climate change in urban environments. It brings together global, regional and local perspectives on climate change, cities, resilience, sustainability and urban futures.

The course is especially timely given major policy developments, including a new national urban policy, a national climate risk assessment, and a national climate adaptation plan, all of which increase demand for capabilities in climate-responsive planning and implementation.

Participants will gain insight into current challenges, emerging opportunities, and leading practices in planning for climate change across cities and communities.

Why this course matters

Planning for climate change is no longer a niche concern. It is now central to decision-making across government, infrastructure, development, finance, insurance and urban policy. Cities must both reduce emissions and adapt to increasing climate impacts, while continuing to support liveability, resilience and sustainable growth.

This course responds to that need by equipping participants with a stronger understanding of:

• the connection between climate change and urbanisation;
• the policy and planning challenges facing cities and towns;
• leading practice in climate-responsive urban planning;
• pathways for shaping more sustainable and climate-resilient urban futures.

Who should attend

This course is designed for professionals who work at the intersection of policy, planning, infrastructure, development, sustainability and risk. It may be particularly relevant for:

• government professionals, including mid-career APS and public sector staff;
• industry professionals in the built environment, sustainability and risk management;
• consultants in planning, sustainability, development and urban design;
• disaster and risk management practitioners;
• professionals in the insurance and banking sectors;
• international participants from the Asia-Pacific region.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• understand the connection between climate change and cities;
• identify current challenges and opportunities in responding to urban climate change;
• recognise leading practice, both globally and locally, in planning for climate change;
• assess possible pathways for government, non-government and industry to support more sustainable and resilient urban futures.

Course topics

Topics may include:

• climate change and urbanisation;
• global and local policy responses in planning for climate change;
• leading practice in urban climate planning;
• future scenarios for climate-adapted urban futures;
• pathways towards more climate-resilient cities.

What makes this course distinctive

Participants will gain a perspective that is difficult to find elsewhere: a learning experience that brings together climate change, urbanisation and planning in one integrated framework, with relevance to Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The course is informed by the urgent need for cross-sector capability and practical responses to emerging climate and urban challenges. It is designed for professionals who want to better understand not just the problem, but also the policy, planning and implementation pathways forward.

Why register your interest

Submitting an Expression of Interest will allow you to:

• receive updates when course dates are confirmed;
• access the latest course information and program details;
• be among the first to hear when enrolments open.