In the face of worsening climate disasters, the Sydney Environment Institute's Shoalhaven project seeks to understand the work being done by communities to protect animals during catastrophic fires, and how this can be better supported.

As a way of reflecting back the wealth of information community members generously shared, the research team wrote and recorded a series of vignettes incorporating key themes and findings of the project. Each story is a fictionalised representation of real events, and is an amalgamation of community members’ experiences. The characters are made up, but their experiences are based on those of our interview participants. 

Hear SEI researcher Freya MacDonald read the stories.

Stories of courage: Part one – caring for wild animals during bushfires

Industrial agriculture is a key contributor to the climate crisis, which threatens the resilience of our food systems. A panel of farmers and researchers explore farming practices that can help restore our ecosystems.

This discussion is part of the Sydney Environment Institute’s Climate Adaptation series. As climate disasters increase, all sectors of society – from food supply chains to investment strategies – must adapt. This series, led by SEI Postdoctoral Fellow Justin See, platforms thought leaders across research, business, policy and communities to delve into just and sustainable climate change adaptation.

Timestamps

1.01 Acknowledgment of Country
6.47 What is regenerative agriculture?
19.38 Who should drive food system adaptation?
30.06 The real cost of food
34.46 What policy shifts do we need?
43.13 The power of big agriculture

Speakers

Joshua Gilbert, Worimi man and Indigenous agriculturist
William Thorncraft, regenerative farmer
Thomas O'Donoghue, University of Sydney International Centre for Crop and Digital Agriculture
Rebecca Cross (Chair), University of Sydney School of Geosciences

Adapting our food systems

In recent years, Australia has been battered by catastrophic bushfires and floods exacerbated by climate change. It is also clear from these shock events that community organised actions fulfil an essential role in disaster preparation, response and recovery. With science warning that the intensity and frequency of fires, floods and other disasters will only increase in future, what lessons can be learnt from communities already impacted by this ‘new normal’? 

A panel of esteemed community organisers and researchers share crucial new findings from the SEI research project ‘Self-organising Systems to Minimise Future Disaster Risk’ in recognition of the UN’s International Disaster Risk Reduction Day on 13 October. Learn firsthand insights from their collaboration with affected communities in the Northern Rivers, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains. The research illuminates the essential role of spontaneous community organising in times of disaster underpinned by strong local knowledge and connection. The discussion explores how government and emergency services can effectively support this role and how the most meaningful community actions can often go unnoticed.

Timestamps

8.47 Impact of climate-driven disasters on communities
19.29 What would support communities?
24.51 Recognising the role of local knowledge
31.48 What do communities want from government and agencies?

Speakers
Scott Webster, Researcher, Sydney Environment Institute
Mary Lyons-Buckett, Community Fellow, Hawkesbury
Rebecca McNaught, Plan C 
David Schlosberg (Chair), Director, Sydney Environment Institute

Preparing for the unpredictable: communities reducing disaster risk

In this instalment of Grounded Conversations, political theorist Alyssa Battistoni joins Sydney Environment Institute researcher Anna Sturman to discuss the practical transformation of unjust systems in relation to climate change and critical scholarship. They will reflect on the role of care and multispecies justice in climate movements, and the different social and political contexts the USA and Australia present for organising towards more just futures.

Timestamps:
07:40 The politics of nature: how capitalism values nature
20:35 Australia vs. US climate movements & Green New Deals
32:15 How are people building power and addressing socio-ecological issues
42:45 The role of academia in informing and being informed by movements

Speakers:
Dr. Alyssa Battistoni, Barnard College
Dr. Anna Sturman, Sydney Environment Institute

Building power within and beyond the university

The Sydney Environment Institute, based at the University of Sydney, brings together leading thinkers from across disciplines to address key environmental issues.

Sydney Environment Institute

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