Impacts of climate change in the City of Greater Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula

This project brings together researchers and practitioners planning for equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for all in the context of a changing climate.

Project dates: 2021 (ongoing)

Project background

Climate change poses a significant threat to our public health and wellbeing and will have differential impacts across groups in our society. To avoid exacerbating health inequities, there is a need to better understand and plan for the health and well-being impacts of climate change. This involves integrating climate change adaptation into public health planning agendas.

The City of Greater Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula Shire have partnered with the Centre for Just Places (Jesuit Social Services) and the Australian Urban Observatory, (Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University), to investigate the interaction of climate change and health within their municipalities.

Project aims

Profiling health and climate risks for residents across each municipality.
Identification of a shared indicator framework for vulnerability across the municipalities.
Mapping shared as well as specific roles and responsibilities related to planning for climate change in public health and wellbeing planning.
A high-level scan of adaptive capacity for health and community service delivery.
A set of recommendations to respond to local risks and impacts, responsive to considerations of differential needs, impacts, and opportunities.

Key people

Melanie Davern – Director, Australian Urban Observatory
Susie Moloney – Associate Professor Sustainability and Urban Planning

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities brings together our expertise in understanding how cities are planned and designed to create more just, sustainable and healthy outcomes.

Regenerative Environments and Climate Action

Regenerative Environments and Climate Action brings together our expertise in understanding cities as integral to environmental justice, the need for urgent climate action, improving ecological processes, and connections with more-than-human worlds.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information

Impacts of climate change in the City of Greater Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula