The capacity for adaptive governance (as a climate change adaptation strategy) in the Victorian fire management sector, taking its perspective from the sector's bureaucrats

As climate change increases the risk of bushfire weather, an important question is; what might this mean for the resilience of communities to bushfire and in particular, the role of a policy framework in supporting this as our climate changes? Fire management is inherently complex because it involves social and ecological systems, their interactions, and our uncertain knowledge about these factors. A policy framework has to address these factors, alongside how differing ideas, interests and ideologies might be considered within any framework.

Concurrently, it is pointless to consider a policy framework for bushfire management without considering the implications of climate change. It is widely argued that building social and ecological resilience will reduce vulnerability to the increasing risk of natural hazards being driven by climate change.

To help fire and land management agencies understand the extent to which the existing policy framework addresses these challenges, this research identified the features of a policy framework that might address those challenges.