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Climate change calls for strategic planning that builds resilience in vulnerable areas to manage the associated risks. This paper discusses how adaptive various communities and industries are to climate change in the North West of Victoria (also known as the Victorian wheatbelt), Australia. Indicators of adaptive ability for communities and industries, and the importance of key drivers like government policies, expert advice and empirical evidence of developing this capacity are identified. It also incorporates input from key regional groups as well as current knowledge on adaptability of regional communities to climate change across three major themes: socio-cultural, economic, institutional/infrastructure. Each of these major themes has associated indicators, which in turn have an individual suite of measures, albeit all contributing to the overall adaptive capacity and spatial variability of these capacities. A Geographic Information System is used to collect and analyse the data and spatially represent the indicators and indices. Workshop participants' used their 'expert-judgment' to assess and weight indicators, measures and themes. The stakeholders' participatory assessment, the quantification of diversified data and interests and the importance of multiple policy outcomes make the findings locally relevant. We find that capacity and preparedness to adapt to climate change varies substantially across communities and different parts of the grains industry.

The interconnection between rural and urban areas is growing. The large-scale urbanization and the implications of this type of development on rural areas calls for a renewed attention in fostering linkages between the urban, peri-urban and rural contexts. The limited land resources creates intense competition for different uses, including urbanization, protection of the environment and the improvements over land. This paper argues for the imperative to foster an effective interaction between urban and rural areas. Using selected case studies and learning interventions in the urban–rural continuum from various organizations, this paper argues that there is a need for strengthening partnerships, research and knowledge development on developing land and spatial planning systems and tools for a balanced urban and rural development. This paper presents the rationale for the renewed interest in the issue of urban–rural linkages. It also highlights the findings of the literature review and various organization positions and interventions on urban–rural linkages. Finally, this paper suggests the possible priority areas for enhancing urban–rural linkages. 农村和城市地区之间的相互联系越来越密切。大规模的城镇化和这种类型的开发对农村的影响正在呼吁重新重视培育城市、郊区和农村大环境之间的联系。有限的土地资源造成了不同用途之间的激烈竞争，包括城市化、环境保护和土地改善。本文认为必须促进城乡之间的有效互动。通过有选择的案例研究，并学习各种组织在城乡连续性中的干预，本文认为有必要加强土地开发和空间规划体系及其工具之间的协作、研究和学科发展，从而获得均衡的城乡发展。本文提出了在城乡联系问题上的新的研究焦点的理论依据。本文同时也强调了文献综述和各种组织对城乡联系的定位和干预的结果。最后，为了加强城乡联系，本文提出了可能的优先区域。

The human population has been growing steadily over time; a trend that has had an increasing pressure on global resources. The population is predicted to grow further, particularly, in urban areas. According to the UN Habitat more than half of the global population now resides in cities (UN Habitat, 2014). By 2050, the urban dwellers are projected to make up over 70 per cent of the global population. Therefore, urban areas provide an important locale for addressing the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental challenges in order to capitalize on urban opportunities while mitigating the risks (UN Habitat, 2013). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were affirmed in September 2015 during the 2015 United Nations General Assembly as a universal normative development blueprint for all members ascribed to the UN Charter. Of the 17 SDGs, Goal 11 is wholly dedicated to 'Sustainable Cities and Communities: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable'. The 'urban goal' has ten attendant targets. These targets refine the focus on key areas that need urgent attention in addressing urbanization challenges worldwide. It is in these areas where policy makers assert that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities. The identification of an urban goal is an acknowledgement that 'the current model of urbanization is unsustainable in many respects' (UN Habitat, 2016). Habitat III is the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to take place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 20 October 2016. The outcome of Habitat III could be the tenet to promote all levels of human settlements including small rural communities, villages, market towns, intermediate cities and metropolises for sustainable demographic and economic. According to the UN Habitat, rethinking the Urban Agenda is: • Embracing urbanization at all levels of human settlements, more appropriate policies can embrace urbanization across physical space, bridging urban, peri-urban and rural areas and assist governments in addressing challenges through national and local development policy frameworks. • Integrating equity to the development agenda. Equity becomes an issue of social justice, ensures access to the public sphere, extends opportunities and increases the commons. Prologue Environment and Urbanization AsiA 7(2) x-xii 2016 National institute of Urban Affairs (NiUA) sAGE Publications sagepub.in/home.nav

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