Media release - 10 August
2009 - Australia and Indonesia have taken
a key step towards helping to secure an
agreement at Copenhagen
to reduce emissions from forests.
The two nations have
submitted a joint submission ahead of the
UN climate change negotiations in Bonn from
10 - 14 August.
The submission is the
second joint Australia - Indonesia submission
on reducing emissions from deforestation
and forest degradation in developing countries
(known as REDD).
"This submission
highlights the importance both countries
place on achieving a successful outcome
on REDD at Copenhagen," Senator Wong
said.
The submission builds
on the successful Australia - Indonesia
submission on REDD at the Poznan climate
change negotiations in December 2008 which
broke new ground by demonstrating a new
model of cooperation between developed and
developing countries in the negotiations.
This latest joint submission
focuses on the necessary technical and institutional
requirements to make REDD work.
These foundations are
essential to providing certainty to the
international community that emission reductions
from REDD are genuine and can be accurately
measured.
Australia is actively
supporting Indonesia's early efforts on
REDD by acquiring satellite data and assisting
Indonesia build its capacity in carbon measurement,
accounting and reporting under the Indonesia
- Australia Forest Carbon Partnership.
"This practical
cooperation highlights the progress being
made on REDD, and the successful role of
capacity building efforts between developed
and developing country partners," Senator
Wong said.
The joint submission
is available at: www.climatechange.gov.au/international/unfccc-submissions.html
+ More
Australia announces
funding priorities for Pacific climate change
adaptation
Media release - 6 August
2009 - The Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Stephen Smith, and the Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Penny Wong, today announced
funding priorities to assist Pacific Island
countries to meet the immediate challenges
of climate change.
The Government has previously
announced $150 million for the International
Climate Change Adaptation Initiative. The
Initiative aims to meet high priority climate
adaptation needs in vulnerable countries
in our region.
Of this $150 million
Initiative, $75 million has previously been
allocated and $50 million is being allocated
today.
Of this $50 million,
$25 million will be allocated to help implement
high priority, practical adaptation programs
in Pacific island countries, including:
working with the agricultural
sector to address food security issues;
protecting water supplies and essential
infrastructure;
improving coastal zone management to increase
the resilience of coastal areas and community
settlements to climate change; and
supporting disaster preparedness and disaster
risk reduction programs.
A further $12 million will be provided for
the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance
Program to strengthen the capacity of Pacific
Island countries to assess their vulnerabilities
to climate change and develop adaptation
strategies. This will help Pacific Island
countries to build the skills and knowledge
they need for long-term decision making
to prepare for climate change.
Australia will also
contribute:
$6 million to support
Pacific regional organisations to undertake
adaptation work on issues such as fisheries
management and crop diversity;
$4.3 million investment will be made upgrading
sea level monitoring stations in Pacific
countries; and
$2.7 million will be spent in partnership
with non-government organisations working
on adaptation in the region.
Australia is committed to decisive action
on climate change both at home and globally,
and recognises that building resilience
to climate change is critically important
for vulnerable countries in the Pacific.
Of the $75 million previously
allocated, amounts include:
$14.8m of funding for
the Pacific announced by the Prime Minister
at last year's Forum in Niue;
$20m for the Pacific Climate Change Science
Program; and
$40m for the World Bank's Pilot Programme
for Climate Resilience.
For more information please visit www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/adaptation.cfm
