Research projects
The Scoping Projects in Phase 1 assisted DFAT and CSIRO to develop five long-term research projects that were completed in Phase 2 during 2010–2014:
Exploring Mekong Futures in the Greater Mekong Region
The Alliance assessed national and regional decision-making about complex issues in ‘the Mekong’ countries – the nexus of energy, water and food investments. The idea that was investigated focused on providing integrated, alternative scenarios of long-term future development to support the needs of Mekong Region decision-makers who have to consider the interconnected domains of energy, waters and food security in the context of changes in climate, land use, technology, urbanisation and populations. The outcomes are also to help inform future development decisions.
Contact Neil.Lazarow@csiro.au
Climate Adaptation through Sustainable Urban Development
Collaborative urban case studies in Can Tho, Vietnam and Makassar, Indonesia focused on integrated urban water management systems as a means of assessing the application of sustainable urban development principles. These principles include climate change, population growth and rising demands on regional resources such as water and energy. This project explored how these factors can influence major urban infrastructure projects and integrated urban environmental management issues with policy makers, urban managers and researchers.
Contact Minh.Nguyen@csiro.au (Vietnam) and Dewi.Kirono@csiro.au (Indonesia)
Climate Adaptation Strategies for Rural Livelihoods in Nusa Tengarra Province, eastern Indonesia
Working with the Government of Indonesia and Indonesian scientists this project assessed vulnerabilities to climate change in the Indonesian Province of Nusa Tengarra Barat. Detailed local climate projections will help different sectors including agriculture and coastal fisheries develop adaptation strategies. The research worked at both the government and community scale, to work out how best to support people as they prepare to adapt to climate change impacts.
Contact James.Butler@csiro.au
Bangladesh Integrated Water Resources Assessment
Bangladesh water demand will grow with the growing population and increasing economic development. Whereas surface water resources are well studied, there are significant knowledge gaps in groundwater resources, the joint use of surface and groundwater, management strategies that enhance the efficiency in the equitable allocation of scarce water resources and improve livelihoods, and the potential impacts of climate change. There is a real risk of reduced access to safe drinking and irrigation water in rural areas, and of induced contamination of groundwater by saline intrusion and ingress of polluted surface waters. This project conducted an integrated water resources / socio-economic study to provide a national overview of the resource, the impacts of development and climate change, and the way the impacts will affect the poor and vulnerable.
Contact: Mac.Kirby@csiro.au or Mohammed.Mainuddin@csiro.au
High resolution climate projections for Vietnam
The High-resolution Vietnam Climate Projection project has helped Vietnamese people to better understand the likely effects of climate change throughout their country. This project has improving knowledge of climate change impacts assists in identifying the people and sectors at risk and, in doing so, will support Vietnam in the challenging task of prioritising its climate change response.
Contact: Jack.Katzfey@csiro.au
Food security through food systems innovation
This project was planned for Phase 2 of the Alliance, but developed into The Food Systems Innovation (FSI) Initiative, a multi-agency partnership. Read more on the Food Systems Innovation website.
