Media release
27 May 2010
Australia remains on track to meet its Kyoto
Protocol target due in part to the global
economic downturn, National Greenhouse Accounts
released today show.
Australia’s Kyoto target
is to limit greenhouse gas emissions in
the 2008-2012 period to 108 per cent of
11000 emissions.
The Minister for Climate
Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator
Penny Wong, said the National Greenhouse
Accounts show Australia’s emissions fell
between 2008 and 2009 by around 13 million
tonnes (Mt). Australia formally submitted
the reports to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) overnight.
"The latest National
Greenhouse Accounts show Australia’s emissions
declined for a brief period in the early
part of 2009, due largely to the global
economic downturn," Senator Wong said.
"This means that
Australia’s emissions were lower in 2009
than 2008, ensuring Australia remains on
track to meet our Kyoto target.
"However significant
challenges remain over the longer term,
with the underlying trends showing Australia’s
greenhouse gas emissions are again increasing."
The National Greenhouse
Gas Inventory states Australia’s annual
emissions (excluding emissions from land
use, land use change and forestry activities)
for the four quarters to December 2009 fell
2.4 per cent – from 550 Mt in 2008 to 537
Mt in 2009. However, for the most recent
quarter emissions were estimated to have
increased by 0.6 per cent on a trend basis.
"These results
show that we still have the challenge of
reducing emissions in all sectors of the
economy," Senator Wong said.
"For example, the
increase in energy sector emissions between
11000 and 2009 was 43 per cent.
"We know that a
price on carbon will be necessary to meet
our targets and to reverse the climbing
trend of emissions growth. We remain committed
to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
as the most effective and cheapest way of
meeting our targets."
Australia’s National
Greenhouse Accounts comprise four annual
reports:
The National Greenhouse
Gas Inventory, which tracks progress towards
Australia’s 108 per cent Kyoto target and
includes preliminary greenhouse gas emissions
estimates for 2009;
The State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories
2008;
The National Inventory by Economic Sector
2008; and
The National Inventory Report 2008 which
provides estimates of Australia’s net greenhouse
gas emissions for 11000-2008 and is Australia’s
annual submission to the UNFCCC.
The reports are available at: www.climatechange.gov.au/en/climate-change/emissions.aspx.
+ More
Funding boost to improve
the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef
Media release
17 May 2010
Townsville's Reef HQ Aquarium is set to
benefit from a $4 million funding injection
announced as part of the $12 million investment
through the Budget to improve the resilience
of the Great Barrier Reef.
Environment Protection
Minister Peter Garrett toured Reef HQ Aquarium
in Townsville today to see first hand how
the funds will be used to facilitate a major
infrastructure upgrade the 22 year old facility.
"Reef HQ Aquarium
has been the National Education Centre for
the Great Barrier Reef for over 20 years
and we want to see it continue this vital
role for many years to come.
"Because of its
location in tropical north Queensland and
the inherent infrastructure stresses of
salt water aquariums, the facility requires
attention to ensure its operational effectiveness
and longevity.
"This $4 million
investment will support a major infrastructure
upgrade over two years that will ensure
the provision of world's best practice in
aquarium life support systems and improved
resilience for the world's largest living
captive reef environment," Mr Garrett
said.
The project includes
a new filtration system that utilises the
latest technology and will enhance water
quality in the tanks, extensive engineering
works to strengthen the floor to enable
additional displays and exhibits, a new
function space and new research infrastructure
to ensure Reef HQ can continue to build
on their provision of cutting edge research
in collaboration with academic institutions
and industry.
Mr Garrett said the
$4 million initiative is in addition to
$3.8 million over two years for improving
the Outlook of the Great Barrier Reef and
$4.2 million over two years to ensure the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
can effectively deliver on the Australian
Government's obligations under the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Act 1975.
"The $3.8 million
initiative to improve the outlook for the
Great Barrier Reef will provide funding
to expand the highly successful Reef Guardian
stewardship program.
"The funds will
be used to strengthen the existing Reef
Guardian Schools and Reef Guardian Council
programs to ensure their longer term sustainability
and to expand the Reef Guardian program
to provide opportunities for farmers and
fishers.
"As we’re doing
through the Reef Rescue program, these programs
will help drive the voluntary adoption of
environmentally sustainable best practices,”
Mr Garrett said.
The initiative also
includes funding for the improvement of
knowledge management systems that will provide
opportunities to share and build knowledge
to achieve critical environmental outcomes
for the reef.
