Climate Change Experiences in Northern Australia contains the proceedings of an International Public Forum on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change - a collaborative effort between Charles Darwin University (CDU), the United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) Traditional Knowledge Initiative, and the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), held at CDU on 3 April 2008.

Expert speakers included Jeremy Russell-Smith (Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre) introduced the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project and opportunities for indigenous engagement and enterprise development across northern Australia in relation to fire matters and Dean Yibarbuk (Kunbarllanjnja Community, Arnhem Land) spoke of the cultural aspects and involvement of countrymen in this partnership. Wendy Brady (School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems) provided many examples of the enormous capacity of Indigenous Australians for adaptation. Bart Currie (Royal Darwin Hospital) spoke on the nexus between anthropogenic climate change, environmental health and human health, and Ngaire Brown (Menzies School of Health Research) provided perspectives on cultural determinants of health, and impacts of climate change on land management and indigenous health in Australia.

This was followed by a panel discussion featuring several international experts (from Asia, North America and the Pacific) in order to relate the Australian experience with experiences worldwide.

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