Research priorities for natural ecosystems in a changing global climate

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Climate change presents significant risks to biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
• Adaptation strategies are essential alongside mitigation, but resources are limited.
• Unequal distribution of climate risks necessitates strategic research prioritization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize national adaptation research plans for marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems.
• To identify key global research priorities for informing climate change adaptation policy and management.
• To accelerate the uptake of research into effective adaptation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a decade of research from the Australian National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
• Review of global literature on climate change adaptation.
• Extensive stakeholder consultations across Australian ecosystems, sectors, and regions.

Main Results:

• Identification of 18 priority research topics for informing adaptation policy and management.
• Priorities are based on significance, urgency, feasibility, knowledge gaps, and potential for co-benefits.
• A unified guide for policymakers, funders, and researchers to direct resources effectively.

Conclusions:

• Strategic research is vital to enhance the resilience of natural ecosystems to climate change.
• Prioritized research accelerates adaptation progress and minimizes climate change impacts.
• Global application of these priorities is imperative given the pace of climate change.