Councils across Greater Melbourne face increasing climate risks to both built and natural assets due to heatwaves, inland flooding, coastal flooding, and bushfires. Without action, these hazards will result in escalating financial costs and service disruptions. To support better planning, the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action initiated a project to understand the economic implications of a ‘do nothing differently’ scenario, where no additional adaptation measures are taken. This work provides essential evidence to guide future investments in resilience and adaptation.

We were engaged to estimate the financial value of climate change impacts across 32 councils in Greater Melbourne. Building on previous work that developed a cost-benefit analysis framework, we delivered detailed assessments of potential asset damage and service disruption costs across climate hazard types.

In 2025, a third phase began, focused on estimating the benefits of adaptation investments for road infrastructure. The project was overseen by representatives from Victoria’s regional greenhouse alliances — NAGA, EAGA, WAGA and SECCCA — and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, ensuring the work is aligned with broader climate adaptation policy and practice.