Carmen is a human geographer whose research focuses on the human dimensions of coastal conservation and management, at the nexus of social science and policy. She explores the governance of coastal and marine areas, community vulnerability, capacity, and engagement. Carmen’s research currently address three intersecting themes:

Vulnerability, adaptive capacity, adaptation, and transformation

Through her work, Carmen has established a reputation for advancing adaptive capacity discourse, particularly at the household scale. This work builds on over ten years practice delivering climate change adaptation support to local and national governments, predominantly in the Asia-Pacific region.  

• Carmen E. Elrick-Barr, Ryan Plummer & Timothy F. Smith (2023) Third-generation adaptive capacity assessment for climate-resilient development, Climate and Development, 15:6, 518-521 
• Tschakert, P., Barnett, J., Ellis, N., Lawrence, C., Tuana, N., New, M., Elrick‐Barr, C., Pandit, R. and Pannell, D., 2017. Climate change and loss, as if people mattered: values, places, and experiences. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 8(5), p.e476.
• Elrick-Barr, C.E., Thomsen, D.C., Preston, B.L. et al.Perceptions matter: household adaptive capacity and capability in two Australian coastal communities. Reg Environ Change 17, 1141–1151 (2017).

Coastal policy and governance

This theme explores the governance of coastal and marine areas, asking how institutional instruments, social norms and values, power and politics influence the capacity to reform governance arrangements for more equitable and sustainable futures.   

• Elrick-Barr, C.E. and Smith, T.F., 2022. Problem framing for Australian coastal management. Environmental Science & Policy, 127, pp.218-227.
• Elrick-Barr, C.E. and Smith, T.F., 2021. Policy is rarely intentional or substantial for coastal issues in Australia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 207, p.105609.
• Nunn, P.D., Smith, T.F. and Elrick-Barr, C., 2021. Path dependency and future adaptation of coastal cities: Examples from the Asia-Pacific. Frontiers in Environmental Science, p.359.

Social values and engagement in marine and coastal planning and management

The challenges facing coastal areas require transformative change – which is most feasible when the destination (target) is clear.  This theme explores (i) approaches to collectively generate preferred futures, through citizen engagement and understanding social values, and (ii) valuing marine and coastal stewardship.

• Elrick-Barr, C.E., Clifton, J., Cuttler, M., Perry, C. and Rogers, A.A., 2023. Understanding coastal social values through citizen science: The example of Coastsnap in Western Australia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 238, p.106563.
• Elrick-Barr, C.E., Zimmerhackel, J.S., Hill, G., Clifton, J., Ackermann, F., Burton, M. and Harvey, E.S., 2022. Man-made structures in the marine environment: A review of stakeholders’ social and economic values and perceptions. Environmental Science & Policy, 129, pp.12-18.
• Mallette, A., Smith, T.F., Elrick-Barr, C., Blythe, J. and Plummer, R., 2021. Understanding preferences for coastal climate change adaptation: a systematic literature review. Sustainability, 13(15), p.8594.

• Building community resilience to coastal hazards in Australia, Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award, 2023/4, $393,664.00
• Climate change finance and capacity building expert, USAID, 2013 $22,000
• Mediterranean Action Program and Background Paper, UNEP, 2013, $10,000.00
• Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the Republic of Mauritius, African Adaptation Project (AAP) and UNEP, 2013, $20,000.00
• Decision Support Framework for Climate Integrated Ecosystem Based Adaptation, UNEP, 2013, $220,000.00
• City of Stirling CCA Plan, City of Stirling, 2012, $60,000.00
• Policy Papers Synthesizing Climate Change Adaptation Needs for Local Government, Water, Biodiversity and Extreme Events., NCCARF, 2012, $30,000.00
• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Design for the Pacific Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program, Department of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, 2012, $22,000.00
• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Design for the Pacific Islands Regional Framework for Action on Climate Change (PIFACC) (2012)., PIFACC, 2012, $50,000.00
• Evaluation of the McKinsey Economic Analysis of Adaptation Options Project (2012): Samoa Case Study, UNEP, 2012, $5,000.00
• SLSA Adaptation Road Map, Surf Life Saving Australia, 2011, $20,000.00
• SPREP PIFACC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, SPREP, 2011, $20,000.00
• Climate Change Variability and Change Strategy, Dept of Water, WA, 2011, $15,000.00
• Stocktake Report Nauru (DCCEE), Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, 2011, $15,000.00
• UNDP Albania: Identification and implementation of adaptation response measures in Drini – Mati River Deltas , Global Environment Facility, 2010, $200,000.00
• Development of a Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Action Plan, Shire of Murchison, Local Adaptation Pathways Program (LAPP), Shire of Murchison, $30,000.00
• Development of a Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Action Plan, Mid West Regional Council, Local Adaptation Pathways Program (LAPP), Mid West Regional Council, $35,000.00
• Development of a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for Western Australia, Department of Climate Change, $15,000.00
• Kiribati Adaptation Program Followup, GEF, 2010
• Western Suburbs Regional Organisations of Councils (WESROC) Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Strategy, WESROC, 2010, $50,000.00
• Samoa AusAID Partnership Develop Priority 5 CC Implementation Strategy, DCCEE, 2009  
• City of Mandurah Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment , City of Mandurah, 2009, $35,000.00
• Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Mangroves for the Future Program, UNEP and IUCN, 2009, $12,000.00
• Copy Editing UNEP Report - Blue Carbon: The role of healthy oceans in binding carbon., UNEP, 2009, $2,500.00
• Town of Cottesloe V&A Assessment, Town of Cottesloe, 2008, $19,000.00
• Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) Climate Change Risk Assessment , EMRC, 2008, $40,000.00
• Technology Needs Assessment for Adaptation to Climate Change
  for the Cook Islands, Cook Islands National Environment Service,, 2008, $5,000.00
• Kiribati Adaptation Program, GEF, 2007, $200,000.00
• UNFCCC Needs Assessment , GEF, 2006, $10,000.00
• City of Mandurah CC Conference, City of Mandurah, 2006, $6,000.00