National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility

Green Cross Australia is thrilled to be named as Climate Adaptation Champions for 2013 due to our great work on the influential "Harden Up - Protecting Queensland" project. We offer special thanks to Steering Committee Chair Jeff Callaghan, retired Bureau of Meteorology Senior Forecaster, for his extraordinary contribution to this project which is a tribute to his knowledge of Queensland's weather history.

Following a nationwide search, the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility has announced the four Climate Adaptation Champions for 2013. Green Cross Australia has been awarded 2013 "Community Champion" for its "Harden Up - Protecting Queensland" program - we are thrilled! We are grateful to the NCCARF team for this honour.

Launched in 2011, these awards highlight the achievements of people taking concrete steps to change behaviour, techniques, businesses practices and policies to adapt to an uncertain future.

People and organisations were nominated around Australia in four categories: Business, Community, Government and Individual.

Announcing the Champions, NCCARF Director Professor Jean Palutikof said "There is growing awareness among the Australian public about the threat climate change poses."

"The Champions are evidence that people at all levels of the community are getting on with the job of adapting to climate change," Professor Palutikof said.

Green Cross CEO Mara Bún said the organisation was thrilled to be recognised for promoting self-reliant, sustainable and resilient communities.

"We're passionate about our work educating and empowering Australians to increase our community's resilience in the face of a changing climate," Mara said.

"We hold the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility is such high regard, we're truly honoured to receive such a significant award," she said.

Green Cross Australia wishes to thank the Queensland Department of Community Safety and Attorney General's Department for supporting the Harden Up - Protecting Queensland program through the Natural Disaster Resilience Program. We are grateful for the contribution of our partners Local Government Association of Queensland, Volunteering Queensland,  CSIRO, James Cook University, Insurance Council of Australia, Property Council of Australia and many others who have helped us to nurture a culture of self-reliance to severe weather events through this work.

The Harden Up - Protecting Queensland project is a rare example of a partnership across government, research, business and community sectors. By using a digital model we ensure its scalability for years to come. We look forward to working with other States and Territories on imaginative disaster resilience programs as we deepen our traction in Queensland. Already over 19,000 measurable actions to prepare for natural disasters have been taken by Queenslanders right across the State - with many more to come.

The 2013 NCCARF Adaptation Champions are:

Community: Green Cross Australia for the "Harden Up - Protecting Queensland" program providing innovative online resources to assist Queenslanders to prepare for and manage severe weather events.

Business: Sydney Water for incorporating climate risks into their long term planning to deliver water to more than 4 million people annually.

Government: South Australia State Government and South Australia Local Government Association for their partnership in the SA Climate Adaptation program which has shown long term commitment to enact climate adaptation policies for South Australia.

Individual: Brian Foster for his early and continuing efforts to promote the need for action to address climate change amongst NRM groups and farm communities on the Eyre Peninsula.