The role of policy networks in adapting to sea level rise – the case of Victoria, Australia

This chapter provides a description and evaluation of the process of instigating adaptation to sea level rise through land use planning in Victoria, Australia. Through key actor interviews, and document analysis, this chapter explains how a network of institutions initiated land use planning mechanisms to adapt to sea level rise. This case is significant as it initiated the requirement to plan for sea level rise within planning instruments, and this has remained a key mechanism for adaptation since. The chapter contributes new evidence and insights that will be beneficial for other locations, by explaining the influence of policy networks on the evolution of adaptation policy through urban planning. This analysis demonstrates how diverse institutions can advance adaptation to climate change, and that through such networks even institutions without much formal power can be influential in catalysing policy change.