From Awareness to Action: Embedding Climate Adaptation in Decision-Making
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Overview
Michael Nolan, Climate Change Risk and Resilience Leader, Aurecon
Speaker
Michael Nolan
Climate Change Risk and Resilience Leader
Aurecon
From Awareness to Action: Embedding Climate Adaptation in Decision-Making
Abstract
Michael Nolan shares his more than 25 years’ journey in climate adaptation, from a time when resilience to a changing climate was barely on the radar, to today’s abundance of information—yet there remains a persistent gap in integrating it into strategic decision-making.
Through case studies from a range of sectors, he explores how adaptation strategies and actions have evolved and matured as the changing climate conditions have raised its priority.
Michael will also address the difference between resilient investment action and implementation, highlighting the risk assessment and considerations required for emergency management, and preparedness. His insights providing consideration for organisations when planning key priorities for the future, ensuring adaptation efforts translate into meaningful action.
About Aurecon
As an international design, engineering and advisory company, we’re focused on innovating to contribute to Asia-Pacific’s climate adaptation, energy transition, and decarbonisation. We’re advising locally and globally across industry and governments, developing disaster preparedness and response, resilient infrastructure pathways, and providing advice and analytics. www.aurecongroup.com
Through case studies from a range of sectors, he explores how adaptation strategies and actions have evolved and matured as the changing climate conditions have raised its priority.
Michael will also address the difference between resilient investment action and implementation, highlighting the risk assessment and considerations required for emergency management, and preparedness. His insights providing consideration for organisations when planning key priorities for the future, ensuring adaptation efforts translate into meaningful action.
About Aurecon
As an international design, engineering and advisory company, we’re focused on innovating to contribute to Asia-Pacific’s climate adaptation, energy transition, and decarbonisation. We’re advising locally and globally across industry and governments, developing disaster preparedness and response, resilient infrastructure pathways, and providing advice and analytics. www.aurecongroup.com
Biography
Michael Nolan leads the Climate Change Risk and Resilience practice at Aurecon. He works with private and public sector organisations advising on climate change risk, resilience and disaster management.
He recently led the development of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRRs) Principles for Resilience Infrastructure Scorecard focused on helping organisations reveal resilience gaps and priorities for investment.
Previously Michael was the Director of the International Secretariat for the United Nations Global Compact – Cities Programme – which supported city governments and states to formulate partnerships with private sector to progress the Sustainable Development Goals. He also advised the Executive Office of the President of the United States (Obama Administration) on the climate adaptation investment prioritisation for recovery after Hurricane Sandy. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nolan-b8ba244/
