Goulburn Murray region sees its future in 2050
New research has modelled three possible futures for the Goulburn Murray in 2050, which highlight the impact of taking global and local action to increase the region's resilience.
What could Victoria’s Goulburn Murray region look like in 2050?
New research suggests that locally-led action, aligned with global efforts to reduce emissions, could ensure the Goulburn Murray region thrives in the face of ongoing change.
The modelling, led by Deakin University with RMCG for the Goulburn Murray Resilience Taskforce, developed three possible futures through consideration of global scenarios, selected local interventions and consideration of the eight resilience principles in the Goulburn Murray Resilience Strategy.
RMCG worked with Deakin to translate the findings into ‘data stories’, which is a way of embedding complex data in a familiar context and adding a narrative to make the results of research easier to share with broad audiences. The characters and data stories in the video below are based upon the knowledge and insights of the Goulburn Murray Resilience Taskforce and the wider RMCG team.
Fast tracking to 2050
The Goulburn Murray region covers almost 10,000 square kilometres and includes several vibrant and diverse communities, abundant natural assets and extensive agricultural production, which accounts for 85% of land use and contributes $3 billion to Victoria’s economy. Below is a summary of the possible futures from the research.
Future 1: Trends continue
Global and regional trends in agriculture, migration and water continue to 2050, with a moderate reduction in climate emissions, decreasing environmental conditions, an increase in agricultural profits and high levels of risk and uncertainty.
Future 2: Big global change
Focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has sparked global emissions cuts and dietary shifts. Climatic warming has peaked and is set to improve, but the Goulburn Murray region is struggling to capitalise on global trends.
Future 3: Global and local transformation
Through proactive intervention, the Goulburn Murray region is a beacon of resilience, thriving in the face of change alongside global emissions cuts, dietary shifts and a peak in climatic warming.
Find out more
Read the Farming Resilient Futures report to find out more or contact our team members below.
The project team acknowledges the support of Deakin University’s research team, the Ian Potter Foundation, Monash University, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Goulburn Murray Resilience Taskforce members.
