Environment and Heritage
Climate Change Strategy
The Government is committed to lowering Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in a manner that maintains Australia’s strong and internationally competitive economy.
Funding of $248.3 million will be provided over the period 2004-05 to 2007-08 to implement a range of new measures designed to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions under the Government’s Climate Change Strategy. This funding will be in addition to $215.2 million over four years to maintain existing programmes administered by the Australian Greenhouse Office. The Strategy is designed to ensure that Australia remains on track to meet the 108 per cent Kyoto emission target in the period 2008 to 2012.
The Government has allocated $30.7 million for scientific research to better understand and predict how future changes in Australia’s climate will impact on our environment, communities and industry. Funding of $27 million will foster the development of innovative low emissions technologies.
The strategy includes $20.1 million for Australia to actively participate in various international fora.
Funding of $178.0 million will be reallocated within the existing resources of the Australian Greenhouse Office, through a reprioritisation of funding from existing programmes, including the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme and the Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme. Revenue of $2.7 million over four years will also result from the continued administration of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.
Table 7: Climate Change Strategy — Summary of measures
- A positive number for revenue indicates an increase in the fiscal balance.
Climate Change Strategy — action on energy efficiency
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 5.5 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.2 |
The Government will provide funding of $26.7 million over four years to increase the uptake of cost-effective and technically proven energy efficiency opportunities across the economy.
The measure integrates and upgrades existing greenhouse energy efficiency measures, and will contribute to lowering Australia’s greenhouse emissions signature. The Government will work with industry, business, the community and all levels of government to increase the uptake of cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities that will encourage reduced greenhouse emissions, reduce energy demand and improve Australia’s competitiveness.
Climate Change Strategy — Challenge Plus — Industry Partnerships
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 6.7 | 6.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
The Government will provide funding of $31.3 million over four years to extend and strengthen the Greenhouse Challenge Programme.
Challenge Plus — Industry Partnerships is a voluntary programme that encourages business and industry to manage and report their greenhouse emissions. This measure will give Australia a world-leading voluntary programme that will promote reduced greenhouse emissions and provide more consistent reporting of emissions levels. Industry and business will have an opportunity to display their greenhouse credentials to potential customers, as well as an increased capacity to factor greenhouse risks and opportunities into planning and operational decisions.
Climate Change Strategy — Climate Change Science Programme
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 6.6 | 6.8 | 8.6 | 8.7 |
The Government will provide funding of $30.7 million over four years to maintain Australia’s world class expertise in climate change science.
Scientific knowledge is fundamental to the capacity of government, industry and the community to understand and respond to climate change. This measure will enhance understanding of the key drivers of climate change in Australia, improve modelling of climate variability and climate change, develop regional climate change projections and foster collaboration in international climate change research.
Climate Change Strategy — continuing administration of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| Related revenue(a) ($m) | ||||
| Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
- A positive number for revenue indicates an increase in the fiscal balance.
The Government will provide an additional $10.6 million over four years to the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator to continue administration of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target. The Office is a separate statutory authority within the Environment and Heritage Portfolio.
This measure will be partly offset through the continued collection of fees from industry participants in the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme, amounting to $2.7 million over four years.
Climate Change Strategy — emissions measurement and analysis
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 5.3 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.2 |
The Government will provide funding of $29.6 million over four years to fund the ongoing production of fundamental data and analysis to inform decision making on greenhouse policy.
Australia’s ability to report domestically and internationally on emissions levels and trends is underpinned by robust emissions measurement and analysis. This measure ensures that Australia will be able to fulfil our international reporting commitments by providing ongoing funding for the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, greenhouse projections and emissions analysis and a world class National Carbon Accounting System.
Climate Change Strategy — local greenhouse action
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
The Government will provide funding of $13.2 million over four years to engage local government and the community in identifying and implementing practical actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Australia’s seven million households collectively produce one-fifth of Australia’s total greenhouse emissions. This programme will help focus on reducing these emissions.
Climate Change Strategy — greenhouse action to enhance sustainability in regional Australia
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 3.7 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
The Government will provide funding of $19.5 million over four years to establish effective partnerships with industry, research organisations and the States to deliver greenhouse gas abatement improvements in agriculture and land management.
Agricultural and other land-based emissions contribute around one third of Australia’s greenhouse emissions. In turn, these sectors can be particularly vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change. This measure will provide funds to assist rural communities to reduce emissions from land-based sectors by helping land managers to measure and report on their greenhouse emissions, and by encouraging new abatement technologies.
Climate Change Strategy — influencing international climate change policy
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 2.5 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
The Government will provide funding of $20.1 million over four years to work towards a more comprehensive and effective global response to climate change consistent with Australia’s national interests.
This measure will provide specialist technical, analytical and scientific advice to underpin Australia’s active participation in international negotiations on climate change. Funding will support multilateral climate change negotiations and processes, help build the capacity of developing countries to take effective climate change action, and expand bilateral partnerships with key strategic countries.
Climate Change Strategy — low emissions technology and abatement
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 3.2 | 5.7 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
The Government will provide funding of $26.9 million over four years to encourage ongoing investment in the development, demonstration and deployment of low emission technologies, and other cost-effective abatement activities.
This measure supports cost-effective improvements in the efficiency of existing technologies and encourages the development of new low emissions technologies. A combination of competitive funding approaches and direct support will be used to leverage private sector investment.
Climate Change Strategy — National Climate Change Adaptation Programme
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 2.3 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
The Government will provide funding of $14.2 million over four years to prepare Australian governments and vulnerable industries, communities and ecosystems to manage unavoidable consequences of climate change.
This measure will address the impacts and adaptation aspect of climate change. It provides national leadership and coordination on assessment of climate change impacts, and enables risks to be managed and opportunities to be captured through effective adaptation. Detailed assessments of the economic and social implications of climate change will be undertaken to identify and evaluate adaptation options for vulnerable industries and regional communities.
Climate Change Strategy — strategic national response
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | 4.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
The Government will provide funding of $25.6 million over four years to coordinate greenhouse policy across Australian Government agencies, and between the different levels of government, as well as engaging with business, industry and the community.
This measure will support other elements of the Government’s Climate Change Strategy through the continued provision of whole-of-government advice on domestic greenhouse policy issues, and the provision of information and education programmes to promote awareness of climate change.
Climate Change Strategy — reprioritisation of funding from existing programmes
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Greenhouse Office | -42.1 | -57.5 | -49.3 | -29.1 |
Funding of $178 million will be reallocated within the existing resources of the Australian Greenhouse Office to partially fund new measures designed to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Programmes from which funding will be reprioritised include the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme and the Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme.
Other measures in the Environment and Heritage portfolio
Great Barrier Reef — addressing Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $0.3 million per annum for three years from 2004-05 for a programme to control the Crown of Thorns Starfish in the Great Barrier Reef. This measure matches the commitments of tourism operators and the Queensland Government to defend high-value tourist sites from further Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks.
The cost of this measure is being fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Natural Heritage Trust.
Great Barrier Reef — Representative Areas Programme
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | 8.6 | 1.6 | - | - |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 8.6 | 1.6 | - | - |
The Government will provide total funding of $23.4 million over three years for activities arising from the implementation of the Representative Areas Programme from 1 July 2004. The Representative Areas Programme will increase the size of ‘no take’ fishing areas from less than 5 per cent to 33 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to better protect the Reef and its biodiversity. More than half the cost of this measure ($13.2 million over three years) is being fully absorbed from within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.
A structural adjustment package will be provided to assist eligible commercial fishers and others adversely affected by the implementation of the Representative Areas Programme. This will involve funding of $8.6 million in 2004-05 and $1.6 million in 2005-06. Eligibility criteria are being developed in consultation with the fishing industry and communities.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will undertake additional enforcement and compliance activities to implement the Representative Areas Programme at a cost of $2.9 million in 2004-05, $2.9 million in 2005-06 and $3 million in 2006-07. The cost of this element is being fully absorbed within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.
The Government will also provide funding of $2.2 million in 2004-05, $1.9 million in 2005-06 and $0.3 million in 2006-07 to educate and inform the public, tourists and industry about the new Representative Areas Programme. The cost of this element is being fully absorbed within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.
Great Barrier Reef — water quality monitoring programme
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $2 million per annum for three years from 2004-05 to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for the implementation of a water quality monitoring programme under the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. The Plan addresses declining water quality in waterways entering the Reef.
The cost of this measure is being fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Natural Heritage Trust.
Natural Heritage Trust Extension
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | 300.0 |
The Government will provide $300 million to extend the Natural Heritage Trust for a further year to 2007-08. The Natural Heritage Trust was established by the Australian Government in 1997 to invest in the restoration and conservation of Australia’s environment and natural resources. This funding will increase the Government’s total investment in the environment through the Natural Heritage Trust to $3 billion.
Protecting biodiversity
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | - |
The Government has made provision in the contingency reserve for funding in 2003-04 for biodiversity initiatives in Queensland and South Australia. This funding builds upon the Government’s existing commitments to protect biodiversity in Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust, and biodiversity in South-East Asia and the Pacific through the Regional Natural Heritage Programme.
St George’s and St Paul’s Cathedrals — restoration
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.5 million in 2003-04 for the restoration of St George’s Cathedral in Perth ($3 million) and St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne ($2.5 million). This funding will support efforts to repair and preserve these heritage buildings. Funding for St Paul’s Cathedral is in addition to funding of $2.5 million provided in 2001-02.