PW 154/2008
29 August 2008 - Australia will provide
$14.8 million to help vulnerable countries
in our region adapt to the effects of climate
change.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
Australia was taking a lead role in assisting
nations in our region adapt to climate change.
“Although they have
been the least responsible for causing climate
change, some of the poorest and most vulnerable
nations will find it hardest to cope with
its effects,” Senator Wong said.
“Australia is committed
to helping our neighbours cope with the
impact of climate change by supporting practical
measures that build local skills and capacity.”
The $14.8 million investment
includes a $3 million Pacific Future Climate
Leaders program which aims to help Pacific
countries develop the expertise to respond
to climate change challenges.
“The Pacific Future
Climate Leaders program will train future
Pacific climate change leaders through scholarships,
exchange programs and community education,”
Senator Wong said.
Australia will also
contribute $6 million over three years to
the Global Environment Facility’s Small
Grants Program to support community-based
adaptation programs in the Asia-Pacific
Region.
“We will invest another
$5 million to help deliver and coordinate
our scientific and technical assistance
to tackle climate change.”
A further $800,000 will
go towards strengthening Pacific meteorological
services in partnership with New Zealand
and Pacific Island countries, and to support
efforts under the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change to identify new and innovative
tools to limit the financial risks of climate
change in developing countries.
“Meteorological services
are basic to safe regional aviation, tourism
and mitigation of the regional effects of
cyclones. They are also fundamental to adaptation-related
activities such as climate modelling,” Senator
Wong said.
The funds for all these
programs are drawn from an Australian Government
commitment of $150 million over three years
to meet priority climate adaptation needs
in vulnerable countries, with particular
emphasis on the needs of our Pacific Island
neighbours.
+ More
New commissioners appointed
to national water commission
29 August 2008 - Minister
for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny
Wong, today announced the appointments of
new commissioners to the National Water
Commission.
The inaugural Chair
and Chief Executive Officer of the National
Water Commission, Ken Matthews, has been
reappointed for a further three-year term.
Prior to his appointment to the Commission,
Mr Matthews was a former Secretary of the
Commonwealth Departments of Transport and
Regional Services and Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry.
The three other Australian
Government-nominated commissioners are:
Laurie Arthur (Chair, National Farmers Federation
Water Task Force); Sally Farrier (Director,
Farrier Swier Consulting Pty Ltd); and Chloe
Munro (current National Water Commissioner
and Executive Director, Innovation Projects
for the Digital Future, Telstra).
The three commissioners
nominated by the states and territories
are Professor Stuart Bunn (Director, Australian
Rivers Institute, Griffith University);
Adjunct Professor Chris Davis (former CEO,
Australian Water Association), and Elaine
Gardiner (Chairman, Ord Irrigation Cooperative).
“Commissioners have
been selected for the contribution they
can make as individuals to the work of the
National Water Commission,” Senator Wong
said.
“Together, the new commissioners
strike a balance between environmental and
production interests, science and economics
perspectives, and rural and urban backgrounds.
“Their expertise also
reflects both Murray-Darling Basin and non-Basin
backgrounds, which is appropriate given
the Australia-wide scope of the National
Water Initiative.”
The National Water Commission
will continue to oversee the shared commitments
agreed to in 2004 by Commonwealth, state
and territory governments under the National
Water Initiative – Australia’s enduring
blueprint for water reform.
Incoming commissioners
will commence in their new roles on 10 September
and will serve for three years.
“I would like to thank
outgoing commissioners Peter Corish, David
Trebeck and Dr John Radcliffe, as well as
acknowledging the contributions made by
former commissioners, the late Professor
Peter Cullen and Dr Wally Cox.
“The outgoing commissioners
have made a substantial contribution to
the National Water Commission during its
crucial first term of implementing the National
Water Initiative and advancing water reform
in Australia.”
