15 October
2009 - Australia and China have boosted
efforts to tackle climate change through
high level discussions in Beijing today.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, attended
the second Australia - China Ministerial
Dialogue on climate change with Chinese
National Development and Reform Commission
Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua.
Progress towards a global
agreement in Copenhagen in December was
the key issue discussed during the Dialogue.
Another outcome of the meeting was to agree
to a program of workshops and seminars to
promote dialogue between Australian and
Chinese experts and scientists.
Minister Wong and Vice
Chairman Xie agreed to renew the Australia
- China Memorandum of Understanding on Climate
Change Activities which focuses on:
enhancing scientific
understanding of climate change
building capacity to adapt to the impacts
of climate change
developing opportunities in climate change
technology, products and expertise.
Minister Wong and Vice Chairman Xie also
signed a specific agreement for enhancing
cooperation between the Department of Climate
Change and China’s National Development
and Reform Commission to help implement
the Australia-China MOU.
“With less than 55
days to go before the climate change conference
in Copenhagen, it is vital that all countries
do as much as possible,” Senator Wong said.
“Our discussions with
the Chinese Government have been very positive.
We welcome China's open and constructive
approach to the Dialogue.
“We have discussed actions
that we can take to assist global efforts
to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at
450 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalent.
"We need all major
economies, whether developed or developing,
to play an important part in tackling climate
change.’’
+ More
$1.2M for Antarctic
science and heritage conservation
13 October 2009 - Federal
Environment and Heritage Minister Peter
Garrett today announced over $1.2 million
for conservation of Antarctic heritage,
and scientific research.
“$486,000 in funding
for the historic Mawson’s Hut at Cape Denison
in the Australian Antarctic Territory will
include removing ice and snow from the interior
of the huts and recovering and cataloguing
historic artifacts from Mawson’s expedition,”
Mr Garrett said.
“Sir Douglas Mawson's
incredible pioneering spirit and courage
is epitomised in the wooden huts that still
stand in the harsh environment of Antarctica,”
Mr Garrett said.
“Built between 1912
and 1913, these National Heritage-listed
huts need urgent conservation to ensure
their long-term survival. This is one of
Australia’s most important historic sites
as it was from here that Mawson’s team studied
weather, geology and magnetics on the Antarctic
continent, enriching the world’s knowledge
of this remarkable area.
“With a recent growth
in Antarctic tourism, sensitive site improvements
will ensure that the heritage values of
the site are maintained.
“Through the Australian
Government’s $650 million Jobs Fund initiative
I’m pleased to say we envisage that nine
short-term and two long-term jobs will come
out of the project, and provide a great
boost to the work of the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.”
“The $60 million allocated
from the Jobs Fund for community heritage
projects is the largest investment ever
made in Australian heritage conservation.
It recognises the crucial role that heritage
conservation can and does play in stimulating
the economic health of communities and in
turn, the nation,” Mr Garrett said.
The $60 million for
community heritage projects has been developed
in consultation with Senator Bob Brown as
part of the Australian Government’s Jobs
and Training Compact.
The Minister also announced
the allocation of more than $1000,000 to
support Australia’s Antarctic program, with
projects to be undertaken by institutions
around the country in the 2009/10 season.
Thirty five projects
from 16 institutions will benefit from the
latest round of Australian Antarctic Science
(AAS) grants.
“Australia plays a major
role in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research
and is a key contributor to the development
of policy on a range of matters, including
sustainable fisheries and conservation in
the region,” Mr Garrett said.
“These grants enable
scientists from Australian universities
and other research bodies to continue to
contribute to our knowledge of the role
of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in
the global climate system.
“We know that the Antarctic
region influences the climate and ecology
of our entire planet. If we are to know
how complex ecosystems are reacting to change
in these extreme environments, it is crucial
that we develop a deeper understanding of
the processes,” Mr Garrett said.
Projects receiving support
for the 2009/10 season include:
Ice-core studies looking
at the history of climate variability in
the Southern Ocean dating back 300 years.
Impact of increased ocean acidification
on the survival of near-shore invertebrates
in Antarctica.
Tracking of elephant seals to determine
the impact on predators of changing sea-ice
patterns in Antarctica.
Investigation of the relationship between
Southern Ocean cyclones and sea ice.
Assessing ecological risks from oil products
used in Antarctica, particularly focusing
on the toxicity on sensitive early life
stages of Antarctic marine invertebrates.
Looking at the evolution of the venomous
Antarctic marine animals.
Understanding the evolution and diversity
of Australian Antarctic sea spiders.
The AAS grants scheme assists researchers
at agencies such as universities and museums
to undertake research of high scientific
merit which will make a valuable contribution
to Australia’s Antarctic Science program.
A full list of heritage projects funded
nationally is available at www.heritage.gov.au
