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NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Expert Collaboration

A literature review undertaken at the beginning of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment identified significant knowledge gaps that would require expert input to be resolved and for the assessments to proceed (Darbyshire, et al, 2022). The integration of expert knowledge into the Climate Vulnerability Assessment was critical to completing the assessments. A framework was developed to solicit expert involvement at several stages in the model development and assessment process (see the Climate Vulnerability Assessment framework for more information).

The diagram below shows the integral role that internal and external expert knowledge played in the assessments. The experts’ knowledge and experience enabled us to fill knowledge gaps and construct accurate models which could not be done using published scientific literature alone.

Flow chart of the engagement process for the Climate Vulnerability Assessment. There is a NSW DPI figure at the start of the diagram to symbolise the Literature review. The Process then moves to draft model, and then to expert review where an external expert symbol is displayed. The process then iterates between NSW DPI historical analysis which is reviewed by experts. Future projections are then run by the NSW DPIRD Climate Team which the external experts review, and the final part of the image is stakeholder engagement which symbolises the end of the engagement process.

To expedite the collaborative process, focus groups were set up for each model, each containing from 2 to 6 experts. The focus groups were convened to serve three key purposes:

  1. Review draft models by applying expert knowledge, thus ensuring that the contents of the models reflected both published knowledge and real-world experiences.
  2. Complete the weighting process, each part of the model was reviewed and weighted to determine its relative contribution to the overall climate suitability of the commodity or biosecurity risk.
  3. Identify plausible adaptation options, drawing on expert insights to highlight current practices, emerging opportunities and future strategies that could reduce exposure to future climate risks.

The Climate Vulnerability Assessment involved 162 NSW DPIRD-based and 116 external experts. In total, 278 collaborators supported the review and refinement of the models through their participation in focus groups.

Bar chart of the experts involved in the Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Horticulture and viticulture had 21 NSW DPI experts and 27 external experts, broadacre cropping had 38 NSW DPI experts and 17 external experts, forestry had 5 NSW DPI experts and 4 external experts, marine fisheries had 5 NSW DPI experts and 5 external experts, extensive livestock had 13 NSW DPI experts and 13 external experts, and biosecurity risks had 31 NSW DPI experts and 11 external experts.

The goal was to have a balance of perspectives within the focus groups to validate and increase confidence in the models. Experts included academics, consultants, industry representatives, researchers from within NSW DPIRD and researchers from other government agencies in Australia or abroad. The models were thus developed with the support and engagement of industry, and the resulting body of work represents a broad consensus across NSW’s primary industries specialists and communities.

The collaborative approach of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment means that its outcomes reflect both scientific knowledge and real‑world experience, providing a strong foundation for understanding and responding to climate risks in the primary industries sector.

References

Darbyshire, R.O., Johnson, S.B., Anwar, M.R. et al. (2022) Climate change and Australia’s primary industries: factors hampering an effective and coordinated response. International Journal of Biometeorology, 66:1045-1056. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02265-7





Contact us

For more information, please get in touch with vulnerability.assessment@dpi.nsw.gov.au