Multi-Level Governance in the Adaptation to Climate Change in Australia - the Latrobe Valley

The planning and political negotiation processes of sustainable energy production in Australia are contradictory processes. A number of different players from Commonwealth, State Government and regional level got involved to transform the Latrobe Valley region that has the dirtiest coal fired power stations in Australia.

We examined the interwoven processes of strategic planning and governance, the set-up of the Labrobe Valley Transition Committee and the development of a Roadmap to transform the region as well as the funding of concrete projects to provide new jobs within the region. What has been seen by many as a smooth and successful process came to a halt when the political conditions changed.

At the same time it became clear that allegedly smooth process had some weaknesses. Since the process had been driven by funding promises of Commonwealth and State Government the region did not develop an independent vision of the transformation of the region. With the loss of funding it became obvious that there is a need to develop such a vision to further drive the process. However, good networks have been developed that might be strong enough to push forward where major funding resources are no longer available.

This paper will discuss the conditions of climate change adaptation and the advantages and challenges multi-level governance structures provide for regional planning and governance.