Ministers' Foreword
Australia's continued prosperity and well being depends critically on our response to climate change, our management of scarce water resources and the ongoing health of our natural environment.
The Rudd Labor Government recognises that climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic challenges of our time. For the first time in a decade the Australian Government is taking responsibility for climate change by: reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions; adapting to the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid; and helping to shape a global solution.
Portfolios across the Rudd Labor Government are working together to tackle climate change. The Rudd Government has delivered $2.3 billion in funding on climate change related initiatives across government over the four years of this Budget.
This funding will help individuals, communities and businesses meet the challenges and embrace the opportunities presented by climate change as we work in partnership with other nations to develop cooperative, global solutions.
The Government has established the Department of Climate Change within the Prime Minister's portfolio to lead the delivery of Australia's climate change strategy, with the necessary resources to manage the complex domestic policy development tasks ahead and to elevate Australia's international engagement to a new level.
The centre-piece of the Government's effort to reduce emissions is the introduction of an emissions trading scheme in 2010. The successful introduction of this scheme will be the most significant economic and structural reform undertaken in Australia since the trade liberalisation of the 1980s.
However, the emissions trading scheme alone will not enable Australia to achieve our reduction goals. The Government has therefore committed to a range of other complementary measures to encourage research and development, increase the use of low emissions technologies and address market failures, such as in the area of energy efficiency.
The challenges we face in managing our scarce water resources are also impacted by climate change. There is evidence to suggest that in the last two decades, Australia's average temperatures have been warmer and that temperatures could rise another one to five degrees by 2070. In those circumstances, Australia's most populated regions will face an ongoing shortage of water unless decisive action is taken.
This Budget is taking that action and invests an additional $1.5 billion over seven years, bringing total expenditure on water reform in Australia, through Water for the Future, to $12.9 billion over 10 years. The Government has four priorities for water reform: adapting to climate change; healthy rivers and waterways; using water wisely and securing water supplies.
While climate change is a major threat to our natural environment, it is not the only one. Our biodiversity, our clean air and our fresh water, our oceans, landscapes and special places are also under threat from other long standing impacts such as land clearing, urban development, pollution and the unsustainable use of natural resources.
The central plank of the Government's approach to sustainable natural resources management is the $2.2 billion Caring for our Country program with the goal of an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed, resilient and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. Funding under this program will focus on six national priorities: the national reserve system, biodiversity and natural icons, coastal environments and aquatic habitats, sustainable farm practices, natural resource management in remote and northern Australia and community skills, knowledge and engagement.
This Budget marks the beginning of a new era in how we care for, manage and value Australia's unique natural environment and the services it provides.
The new funding provided since the 2007‑08 Budget for climate change, water and environmental initiatives is $3.8 billion over the four years of this Budget and the Forward Estimates.
Senator the Hon Penny Wong,
Minister for Climate Change and Water
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
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