Regenerate Gippsland

Storying Climate Change

Climate Stories from Wellington Shire Farmers. Our ‘Storying Climate Change’ project is part of a global research initiative led by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Massachusetts Science Students; Nikhil Chintada, Theodore Lockman, Alexander Lopes, Jacob Schran, to map how people, and particularly farmers, perceive climate change and how they are responding to this change.

Storying Perceptions of Climate Change in Wellington Shire 2020, was a GCCN collaboration between International students with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Gippsland farmers and GCCN Board members John Lawrence, Carolyn Crossley, Ian Southall and Beth Ripper in support.

Individuals around the world are affected by climate change in different ways. Our goal was to collect the perceptions of climate change from farmers in Wellington Shire, Australia. In collaboration with the Gippsland Climate Change Network, we compiled 12 video interviews of farmers in Wellington Shire to capture their opinions and perceptions on climate change. Most of these farmers are sceptical of man-made climate change, but are responsive to climate variations, with many using renewable energy and regenerative farming practices. These investments and practices have helped the farmers respond to shifting and less reliable weather. Farmers living within the local irrigation district were mostly optimistic regarding the sustainability of their future. However, those living outside the irrigation district were generally much less confident about the long-term viability of their farms and community. These videos can help others understand the farmer’s perspectives and actions on climate change.

Climate Stories: Wellington Shire – YouTube

Storying Perceptions of Climate Change in Wellington Shire