Making climate insights actionable

Helping people prepare for climate change begins with making trusted open data easier to understand and apply locally.

Making climate science more accessible

Climate research, environmental modelling and projections play a critical role in helping communities prepare for a changing climate. However, for many people, this information can feel intimidating because it is often complex, technical and difficult to interpret.

As Samantha Stratton, a Project Officer working within Strategic Policy, Science & Engagement, DCCEEW, explains:

“The main challenge was translating complex climate data into content that people could understand and apply. Research reports alone aren’t accessible to most users, and we needed a platform that could bridge the gap between science and real‑world decision‑making.”

Using the SEED program, Samantha and her team created the Future Climate and Adaptation hub to make climate science more accessible, engaging and locally relevant for a wider range of users across New South Wales.

Rather than simply hosting complex datasets, SEED enabled the team to combine climate data, interactive tools and localised insights in one place. This allows users to explore climate information in a way that feels personalised, practical and relevant to their needs.

“My goal was to make the information understandable so people could actually use it. Because if no one understands it, they won’t know how valuable this data can really be”, explains Samantha. 

By transforming complex science into accessible information, SEED helps support informed decision-making and climate adaptation across NSW.
 

Helping users engage with climate data at every level 

Beyond the data exploration page on SEED, users can access research insights, climate maps, graphs and supporting content tailored to different levels of knowledge and experience, whether they're just beginning their climate data journey or are seasoned practitioners.

The goal is simple: help more people understand and engage with climate information. Once users understand climate data, they are more likely to apply it in planning, decision-making and adaptation activities.

“One of the greatest values of SEED is its open data - it’s tested, verified and accessible. No matter someone’s level of experience, they can engage with it confidently knowing it’s backed by rigorous science”, says Samantha. 
 

The Future Climate and Adaptation hub supports users through multiple pathways, including:

• Plain-language explanations that make complex climate science easier to understand
• Interactive maps that allow users to visualise projected climate impacts at a local level
• Downloadable datasets for more detailed analysis
• Clear pathways for deeper engagement, enabling users to build their knowledge and confidence over time
   

Bringing climate adaptation closer to home

One of the key strengths of the Future Climate and Adaptation hub on SEED is its ability to make climate adaptation feel locally relevant rather than a distant or abstract issue.

Through interactive maps and projections, users can explore how climate impacts may differ across regions and communities throughout NSW and focus on the information most applicable to them. 

The maps provide climate projections at a four-kilometre resolution, helping users understand how changes in climate variables, such as temperature and rainfall, may affect their local area.

This level of detail helps communities, businesses and decision-makers connect climate information to their own circumstances and plan for future risks and opportunities.

The hub also draws on projections from the NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) project. These projections help local and state governments, researchers, and communities explore long-term climate trends and adaptation options with greater confidence.
 

From understanding to action 

Since launching in November 2025, the Future Climate and Adaptation hub on SEED has recorded more than 5,000 views, with users returning to explore maps, insights and downloadable datasets.

“We released sea level rise information last year, and they’re still being downloaded even now,” says Samantha. 

Beyond page views, the team also monitors how users interact with the hub, including movement between content and datasets, file downloads and time spent exploring interactive maps. These insights help the team better understand how users are engaging with and applying the information available through the hub.

“SEED offers access to high-quality, verified climate information that’s available to everyone. Making that information openly accessible helps to start important conversations, build understanding and support communities adapting to a changing climate.”  Samantha Stratton, Project Officer, DCCEEW.
 

Supporting long-term climate adaptation

As climate impacts continue to evolve, the Future Climate and Adaptation hub on SEED will continue helping communities, researchers, businesses and decision-makers access trusted climate information.
Through the hub, users can build climate literacy, access information relevant to their circumstances and make more informed decisions about future climate risks and adaptation opportunities.

"I've seen firsthand how this information, our policies and our programs help communities, species and landscapes. In a changing world, helping people access and understand trusted information is incredibly important."

Through SEED, Samantha and her team can continue expanding access to trusted climate information, helping more people understand the impacts of a changing climate and supporting informed action across NSW.