All three tiers of government play a role in planning for adaptation to climate change in the coastal zone. These roles and responsibilities were agreed upon in 2012 by the then Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG’s) Select Council on Climate Change.

These roles and responsibilities were confirmed in 2025 in Australia's first National Adaptation Plan.

The Australian Government has responsibility for setting national strategic direction, supporting coordination across jurisdictions, and managing climate risk to nationally significant assets and systems.

Key statutory and policy functions include:

To strengthen Australia’s climate resilience, the Australian Government oversees:

• national policy and reform leadership, including development of national adaptation strategies and frameworks
• provision of authoritative science and information, such as national and regional climate projections, risk assessments and guidance materials to support evidence‑based planning
• funding and program delivery, including research, capacity‑building and disaster recovery arrangements
• management of Commonwealth assets and programs, ensuring climate risks are integrated into risk management, procurement and infrastructure planning
• economic and social stabilisation, including maintaining social safety nets to reduce disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities.

State and territory governments provide the legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks that guide coastal planning and adaptation at regional and local scales.

Their key responsibilities include:

• establishing statutory planning controls, including coastal planning policies, hazard mapping requirements, development standards and approval processes
• managing state‑owned land and infrastructure, including transport networks, health facilities and environmental assets
• delivering statewide services relevant to adaptation, such as emergency management, environmental protection, transport and public health
• providing regionally relevant data and guidance, including sea‑level rise benchmarks, hazard mapping and technical standards
• partnering with the Australian Government and local governments to coordinate adaptation priorities, monitoring and review.

Many of the broader ideas and challenges in adaptation in coastal areas are common across the country. However there are also differences across jurisdictions, which are described in the State and Territory pages

Local governments are the primary implementing authorities for coastal adaptation through their responsibilities for land‑use planning, local infrastructure and community services.

Within statutory planning and governance frameworks, councils are responsible for:

• integrating climate risk into planning schemes, development assessment and strategic land‑use planning, in accordance with state legislation
• managing foreseeable risk to people, property and council‑owned assets using the best available science and accepted standards
• asset and service management, ensuring continuity and resilience of local infrastructure and services over their planned life
• resourcing preparedness, response and recovery, including local emergency management responsibilities
• community leadership and engagement, supporting informed decision‑making and building understanding of coastal risk and adaptation options
• advocacy and coordination, communicating local needs and priorities to state and national governments.

Local governments operate within constrained resources and complex statutory environments. Addressing these challenges requires robust governance processes, early engagement, partnership‑based approaches and clear decision pathways.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have enduring cultural, legal and spiritual responsibilities for Sea Country. Coastal adaptation planning must recognise Traditional Owners’ rights and interests and support Indigenous‑led governance where applicable.

Effective involvement requires:

• early and ongoing engagement with Traditional Owners
  respect for Indigenous knowledge systems alongside technical assessment
  shared decision‑making and culturally appropriate processes
  adherence to principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) where relevant

Private sector actors are responsible for managing climate risk within their operations, assets and investment decisions, consistent with regulatory, financial and governance obligations. hese actors are expected to assess climate risks, plan for asset lifecycles, and adapt operational practices to ensure long‑term viability and public safety.

Key coastal decision‑makers include:

• infrastructure and utility providers, responsible for service continuity and asset resilience.
• coastal‑dependent businesses, such as tourism, ports, fisheries and aquaculture.
• developers and landowners, whose decisions influence exposure and future risk.

These businesses face specific climate-related challenges, for example:

• fishing industries must assess how changing ocean temperatures and currents may shift fishing grounds
• tourism operators need to consider beach accessibility, erosion risks, and whether climate change could make current destinations less attractive
• port operators and users must evaluate how sea-level rise and increased flooding could disrupt access roads and cargo operations
• aquaculture businesses may need to adapt to ocean warming and acidification, which can affect species health and productivity.

Proactive planning and adaptation are essential for these sectors to remain viable in a changing climate.