Climate change and capital investment decision-making

The key purpose of the VCCCAR sponsored Think Tank, Incorporating climate change impacts and adaptation into capital investment decision-making, was to contribute to the process of refining ways to incorporate the costs and benefits of climate change impacts into the assessment of capital investment infrastructure proposals. Key areas where these issues are important include transport, roads, health, water and electricity.

Because organisations act in situations of constrained economic and environmental resources, there is a practical need to develop ways to weight and balance competing issues and perspectives. The aim of the Think Tank was to consider how such constraints and priorities are – and should be – dealt with. The aim was to elaborate and build upon existing knowledge and experience of speakers and participants, identifying knowledge gaps, key issues of concern, and areas for improvement. An objective over time is to inform priority-setting for future research and development, encouraging the formation of new collaborative activity through cross-sectoral learning.

The Think Tank was held by the La Trobe Institute for Social and Environmental Sustainability at La Trobe University on October 7, 2010.

Click here for a copy of the final report.