Plain speaking climate change: Anne Maree Kreller

My recent publications for Regional Environmental Change and The Conversation have sparked a conversation about ‘planned retreat’ with academics, consultants, government staff and community organisations. One of the most difficult and vexxed issues people living in low-lying and coastal areas face is planned, or precautionary, relocation.

Put simply, planned retreat may include property development restrictions in risky areas, relocating houses out of harm’s way or relocating entire communities. My reserach and conversations with stakeholders indicates the legal, technical and social complexities of this issue.

I found residents are fearful of plans that impact their property prices and anger can quickly escalate if fears are not addressed. Communities face an existential crisis, grappling with a far off threat from storms or rising seas. Adaptation planners are saddled with giving bad news to a hostile audience in consultation.

So how do we talk about planned retreat?

Let me begin by describing what not to do.

Adaptation planners often undertake sea-level rise mapping which shows entire suburbs under water. Legal advice within government impels staff to share this information with rate payers. Maps are put online or hazards are attached to property titles (149Cs) depending on the legislation.

The response from the community is outrage.

Let’s start a different conversation about climate change and planned retreat.

Recognise that planned retreat is a social, emotional and cognitive process, as much as a legal and technical one.

Plans must be community-centred and consider dignity and social justice.

Lead with empathy and kindness.

I would like to end this blog by reflecting on my experience as a cancer survivor. When you are diagnosed with cancer, your world is turned upside down and you come face-to-face with your own mortality. I often felt like I had no time to process emotions such as fear, loss, anger, because of the urgency of my treatment. It took years for my brain to catch up with reality.

The only thing that gets you through years of treatment is being treated with kindness and dignity by your surgeons, oncologists, specialist nurses, and friends, people who walk with you who hold your hand.

I can see many overlaps with my experience and planned retreat.

Planners may need to have a conversation about planned retreat before their communities can process complex emotions.

Make sure they know you will walk beside them every step of the way.