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Climate change adaptation needs to be a highly social process as it requires a systemic change in human behaviors at various scales. Planning for climate change adaptation, however, has only recently begun to explore and adopt approaches focused on building the resilience of social assets as a strategy for effecting change and adaptation. To date, partial or peripheral approaches to planning for social adaptation have been the norm. This chapter considers a social adaptation approach established in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ), a diverse Australian metaregion vulnerable to climate change impacts typical of a range of tropical countries. We (1) outline the methods used in a socially oriented approach planning applied in TNQ, (2) explore a range of social adaption measures emerging from this approach, and (3) evaluate how these measures could be applied in different tropical regions around the world. Because of the diverse nature of the TNQ region, this work provides insights into typical social adaptation measures that may emerge from such planning across the tropics.

Participation in the digital economy provides a major opportunity to diversify regional economies, develop improved global economic participation, improve workforce attraction and retention, and enable competitiveness. The deployment of digital infrastructure also has significant non-economic impacts such as facilitating enhanced wellbeing, improved service delivery, opportunities for education and training, and improved liveability and social connectivity. Key to this is high-speed reliable digital connectivity, effective planning for access, and localised digital capabilities (Marshall, Babacan & Dale, 2021). Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance Inc (TCICA) commissioned studies suggest that broadband and mobile infrastructure and services will provide real opportunities for economic and social development in the Cape and Torres region (ARUP, 2019; Matson, 2020). ARUP (2019:86) concludes that poor digital connectivity “limits the ability to maximise economic opportunities, partake in e-learning or benefit from tele-health services, and generally impacts on social connectivity and quality of life”. These TCICA studies, along with this report, identify connectivity as one of the transformative strategies needed for the region. As a consequence of that need, and as an alliance of 13 councils in the Cape York and Torres Strait, TCICA has commissioned The Cairns Institute at James Cook University (JCU) and the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop a Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity Strategy for the Torres and Cape region. This regional scope includes the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Aurukun Shire Council Cook Shire Council, Hopevale Aboriginal Shire Council, Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Pormpuraaw Aborig

The 2019 monsoon trough event exposed both strengths and weaknesses in the resilience of the Gulf Savannah region, its communities, its businesses, its families, and its people. A key factor influencing the region’s response and recovery to the disaster relates to digital connectivity. This includes the capacity of people in the region to take advantage of existing telecommunications services, and the strength and resilience of mobile and broadband infrastructure itself. In a cohesive and resilient response, this project has supported the Gulf Savannah to bring together property owners, councils, communities, development organisations, businesses owners, technical experts, and telecommunications service providers to collaboratively identify and define mobile and broadband challenges during the 2019 event and the recovery phase. Funded under the Queensland Governments’ FNQ and NQ Monsoon Trough (Category C Flexible Funding) Grants Program, the aim of the project has been to develop legitimate, practical, and affordable options for individuals, businesses, and organisations to get connected, and pathways to developing greater digital capability to respond to challenges and to capitalise on opportunities in the future. Taken together, the qualitative and quantitative research identified and grouped types of needs (at individual, family, and community level) and responses (ranging from quick wins to long-term propositions) for consideration in proposing solutions. A comprehensive assessment of the needs and responses can be found in the Needs Analysis and Technical Audit reports that accompany this strategy document. Within this document, Section 5 outlines overall priority areas for solutions and opportunities for digital connectivity in the Gulf Savannah that cut across geographies and sectors. Then, Section 6 proposes a suite of 10 solutions which inform place-based connectivity packages. Broadly, the solutions identified include three broa

Digital connectivity and capability are essential for regional economic development in the 21st century. Key sectors such as agriculture, resources, energy, tourism, and health are undergoing dramatic transformation globally, and there are enormous opportunities for Queensland and Australia to leverage telecommunications and the internet to increase productivity, diversify industries, and access global markets. Never has digital connectivity been so important in improving livability and maintaining people and workforces in regional and rural communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated some of the key challenges that regional and rural individuals, businesses, and communities face in accessing and participating in the digital economy. Universal access to fast, reliable, and affordable connections is still not a reality for many Queenslanders, and many people lack the advanced digital literacies and skills required to put digital technologies to work in life and business. Indeed, the digital divide between urban and rural areas is deepening, contributing to social and economic inequalities. Rural and regional engagement with digital technology is mixed, with some people in key sectors, such as agriculture, struggling to keep up with fast-paced technological development. Local governments, particularly in remote areas, often lack the knowledge and capacity to drive digital development locally and to advocate for the technical solutions needed to better connect their communities. While the Commonwealth Government is working to deliver universal access, and the Queensland Government has several digital development policies and programs, regional and rural Queensland is lacking a cohesive vision and strategy to achieve digital transformation. This discussion paper was developed through a literature review, consultations with key stakeholders in community and industry roles, a policy audit, and interviews with policy maker

This project brought together Northern Gulf property owners, councils, development organisations, technical experts, and service providers to collaboratively identify and define mobile, telecommunications, and broadband failures during the 2019 monsoon trough and recovery phase, and devise novel technical solutions and systemic improvement options for the future. This needs analysis sought to understand the digital connectivity needs of Northern Gulf residents to directly inform digital connectivity technical solutions that ‘work’ in and for remote communities. Through direct engagement with 100+ people, we canvased mobile and internet experiences, requirements, and possible solutions in three stages from October 2020 to March 2021. This included: • Face-to-face and Zoom interviews with approximately 25 residents across the Northern Gulf from various sectors and locations to understand individual digital connectivity needs; • Three community engagement workshops held in Croydon, Einasleigh and Dimbulah, involving 60+ participants to understand the lived experience of digital connectivity in the region; and, • An online survey focused on prioritisation of needs and possible solutions identified in the interviews and workshops. Emergent priorities and opportunities for improved digital connectivity and outcomes in the Northern Gulf fell into five categories. 1. Remote domestic telecommunications: Improved access to voice and text across properties. 2. Agricultural digital technologies: Access to Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for improved productivity. 3. Connectivity for community events and visitors: Increased mobile/broadband capacity for influx of visitors. 4. Enterprise-grade connections for businesses: Improved services (speed, data, latency) for reliable connections for technologies supporting critical sales processes. 5. Robust telecommunications for disaster response: Improved coverage and inter-operab