8 September
2008 - Minister for Climate Change and Water,
Senator Penny Wong, today announced $198,500
for a study to assess how climate change
will impact on Indigenous communities in
northern Australia.
"Indigenous communities
located in the tropical north face particular
challenges because of their isolation and
socio-economic situation," Senator
Wong said.
"Presently, we
have a limited understanding of how climate
change will affect Indigenous communities,
their resilience and their capacity to adapt.
"This study will
examine the impacts to health, the environment,
infrastructure, education and employment."
The study will identify
knowledge gaps and priorities for future
research and on-ground actions for Indigenous
communities.
It will examine opportunities
for Indigenous communities in areas such
as fire abatement schemes and the value
of Indigenous knowledge in adapting to climate
change.
"When completed,
this study will provide a valuable resource
for determining what actions need to be
taken to reduce the impact of climate change
on these communities," Senator Wong
said.
The Rudd Government
is committed to tackling climate change
by reducing carbon pollution, helping to
secure a global solution, and providing
support for communities to adapt to the
effects of unavoidable climate change.
The study will be conducted
by the University of New South Wales together
with CSIRO, the North Australian Indigenous
Land and Sea Management Alliance and other
research organisations and it is expected
to be completed by April 2009.
The Western Australian
Department of Environment and Conservation
and Northern Territory Department of Natural
Resources, Environment and the Arts are
co-funding the study with the Department
of Climate Change.
Support is being provided
by other Australian Government departments,
including Department of Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts and the Department
of Family, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs.
+ More
Pulp Mill Environmental
assessment deadline extended
8 September 2008 - Environment
Minister, Peter Garrett, today said that
Gunns would have until January 5, 2009,
to complete the Environmental Impact Management
Plan (EIMP) for its proposed Bell Bay Pulp
Mill.
Mr Garrett said he had
given careful and thorough consideration
to Gunns request for an extension of time
for the lodgement of the 16 modules that
form the EIMP.
"Along with my
department and the Independent Experts Group
which advises me on the EIMP for the proposed
mill, Ive been concerned that with just
four modules currently approved and a further
12 yet to come before me, Gunns would not
have the EIMP satisfactorily completed by
October 4.
"Gunns were advised
of this last month and subsequently sought
an extension to the assessment period to
provide them with an opportunity to satisfy
the stringent environmental requirements
for the mill.
"The EIMP requires
thorough and rigorous examination and an
extension will enable Gunns to address the
issues raised by my department to date and
will also give my department, the IEG and
me an opportunity to ensure that every finalised
module fully addresses all of the relevant
environmental matters set out in the 48
approval conditions for the proposed mill."
Condition 7 of the previous
governments approval for the mill says that
an extension of time can be granted by the
Minister for the purposeof completing particular
elements of the EIMP.
"I take my responsibility
to exercise my powers and obligations under
the EPBC Act very seriously. It is not unusual
for major projects to need additional time
to ensure that all environmental matters
are fully investigated and properly addressed.
The comprehensive assessment of every aspect
of the Gunns EIMP by both my department
and the IEG must not be rushed.
"Gunns must now
ensure it finalises the remaining modules
in time so they can receive the same diligent
evaluation by the IEG and me as the four
modules already approved."
+ More
Senator Wong in Argentina
for climate change talks
14 September 2008 -
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator
Penny Wong, will attend a Ministerial Dialogue
on Climate Change in Argentina from 15-18
September.
The meeting, known as
the 'Southern Lights' dialogue, is the fourth
in a series of annual dialogues that aims
to accelerate progress in the United Nation
negotiations towards a new international
agreement on tackling climate change.
"These meetings
bring together a small number of ministers
from key countries to exchange thoughts,
build confidence, and forge ideas to build
momentum towards a global solution on climate
change," Senator Wong said.
"Australia's participation
highlights our influence in efforts to help
shape that global solution.
"Our goal is to
play an active role in generating consensus
around key elements to guide a new global
agreement on climate change.
"In Argentina,
our discussions will focus on many of the
issues central to the United Nations climate
change negotiations.
"I will also meet
with key counterparts from a range of other
countries to discuss issues relevant to
negotiations and to update them about the
Rudd Government's work in tackling climate
change."
This year's Dialogue
will take place in the Patagonian town of
El Calafate, near the Upsala and Perito
Moreno Glaciers.
The location was chosen
to highlight first-hand some of the impacts
of climate change.
Patagonia has experienced
a steep increase in average temperature
during the second half of the 20th Century
and many of its famous glaciers are rapidly
receding.
