14 November 2009 - A
new report mapping the impacts of climate
change on Australia’s coastal communities
has been released today by the Minister
for Climate Change and
Water, Senator Penny Wong.
The report – Climate
Change Risks to Australia’s Coasts – is
the first continental scale mapping of residential
buildings at risk from climate change. It
also details the risks to coastal infrastructure,
services and industry in Australia as a
result of climate change.
Senator Wong said many
coastal communities were vulnerable to impacts
such as sea inundation and erosion. The
report shows between 157,000 to 247,600
existing residential buildings will be at
risk from sea inundation by 2100, under
a sea-level rise scenario of 1.1m.
“This report paints
a picture of the widespread impacts of climate
change on Australia’s coastlines, and the
risks posed to buildings located in coastal
areas,’’ Senator Wong said.
“The science tells
us our climate is changing faster than first
projected and the impacts are likely to
be more severe as sea-level rises and extreme
storms and floods become more frequent.
“These changes are already
happening and we cannot afford to ignore
the findings of this report.’’
Major coastal infrastructure
that underpins our economy, such as airports
and ports, will also be at risk from climate
change, the report shows.
“Sea-level rise, more
intense cyclones and ocean acidification
will potentially increase the capital and
operating costs of ports quite significantly
by mid century,’’ Senator Wong said.
“A number of airports
are also located in low-lying areas in the
coastal zone, and are at risk of inundation
in the coming century.’’
Senator Wong said the
report showed the need to address and start
planning for the impacts of climate change.
“Every day we delay
action on climate change, we increase the
cost,’’ Senator Wong said.
“This report shows the
need to reduce the carbon pollution that
is causing climate change, which is why
we are determined to pass the Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme.
“It also shows that
Australia must plan to adapt to the climate
change we can’t avoid.’’
Senator Wong announced
the creation of a seven-member Coasts and
Climate Change Council (membership list
attached), to be chaired by Professor Tim
Flannery.
The Council will engage
with the community and stakeholders and
advise the Government in the lead up to
a Coastal Climate Change Forum, to be held
in early 2010. This Forum will bring together
all levels of government to develop a strategy
for coastal adaptation.
Professor Flannery said
the report showed the extent of the climate
change challenge facing Australia, and the
need for all levels of government to take
action now.
“Our coasts are already
being impacted by climate change,” Professor
Flannery said.
“We can no longer ignore
the need to reduce emissions and manage
the challenges that climate change poses
to our way of life.”
“This report highlights
the need for planned, coordinated action
to help manage the risks,’’ Senator Wong
said.
“State and local governments,
business and communities will all need to
play a major part to prepare for unavoidable
climate change impacts.’’
Climate Change Risks
to Australia’s Coasts – A First Pass Assessment
is available from the Department of Climate
Change web site www.climatechange.gov.au
COASTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Chairman, Professor Tim Flannery – Faculty
of Science, Macquarie University
Ms Sam Mostyn – expert in sustainability
and risk management
Mr Ron Clarke – Mayor of Gold Coast
Ms Paddi Creevey – Mayor of Mandurah
Professor Barbara Norman – Foundation Chair,
Professor of Urban Planning, Faculty of
Business and Government, University of Canberra
Professor Bruce Thom – President, Australian
Coastal Society
Geoff Lake – President, Australian Local
Government Association
+ More
National first: new
waste policy & new recycling schemes
for TVs, computers and tyres
Media release - 5 November
2009 - At a meeting in Perth today the nation's
environment ministers endorsed a new National
Waste Policy, the first such national framework
charting a ten-year vision for resource
recovery and waste management.
The policy includes
a landmark scheme for recycling computers
and televisions, with householders able
to drop off used computers and TVs for recycling
free of charge, Federal Environment Minister
Peter Garrett announced today.
"Under the new
product stewardship scheme, 80 per cent
of all TVs and computers are expected to
be recycled by 2021," Mr Garrett said.
The Minister said Australia
produced 43,777,000 tonnes of waste in 2006-07
- a 31 per cent increase in five years -
and with waste levels projected to continue
to grow, national leadership in this critical
issue was overdue.
"It has been 17
years since these issues were looked at
in a national context and we now have a
clear path for future action and a huge
step up on existing efforts."
The National Waste Policy
sets out a comprehensive agenda for national
coordinated action on waste across six key
areas:
Taking Responsibility
Improving the Market
Pursuing Sustainability
Reducing Hazard and Risk
Tailoring Solutions
Providing the Evidence
"This is a fundamental shift in our
approach to waste complementing broader
action on climate change and sustainability.
It will lead to less waste and better management
of waste as a resource, to deliver economic,
environmental and social benefits, while
ensuring that we continue to manage waste
in a safe and environmentally sound manner,"
Mr Garrett said.
The Minister said the
new approach had been developed in consultation
and with the support of industry as well
as key non-government organisations and
he acknowledged their involvement and support
in negotiating these crucial breakthroughs.
Computers & televisions
Mr Garrett said the first areas of waste
targeted for action will be computers and
televisions.
"Ministers today
agreed to a groundbreaking product stewardship
framework through which computers and televisions
will be the first products regulated."
In 2007-08, 16.8 million
televisions, computers and computer products
reached their end of life, with 84 per cent
sent to landfill. Only 10 per cent were
recycled.
"If Australia were
to continue without any form of product
stewardship scheme, projections suggest
that approximately 44 million televisions
and computers would be discarded in 2028.
"Backed by Commonwealth
legislation, a new industry-run national
collection and recycling scheme for this
growing mountain of electronic waste will
be up and running in or before 2011.
"This is a major
development in one of our fastest growing
areas of waste which sees for the first
time computer and television manufacturers
taking national responsibility for managing
e-waste, and it will be done at minimal
cost to consumers," Mr Garrett said.
"The National Waste
policy specifically provides for accreditation
of industry led schemes, helping to strengthen
the arm of industry leaders who want to
drive action that sees manufacturers take
responsibility for their products when they
reach the end of their life.
"Computer and television
importers and manufacturers are working
with Government to take responsibility for
their goods, from cradle to grave."
The Government will
provide support to the industry-led collection
and recycling scheme by ensuring industry
non-participants comply with the same standards
as industry members voluntarily participating.
This will ensure that
free-riders are unable to gain a financial
advantage over those companies that willingly
contribute to recycling their own products.
Under the new product
stewardship framework there is provision
for mandatory, voluntary and co-regulatory
schemes. Industry and community organisations
that run voluntary schemes will be able
to gain accreditation so that the community
knows that what they recycle through these
schemes will be reused or recycled in an
ethical and environmentally safe way.
Used tyres
Ministers also agreed to the development
of an industry led scheme for the recycling
of used tyres.
In 2007-08, 52.5 million
tyres reached their end of life in Australia
with 48 per cent being landfilled or illegally
dumped. Only 13 per cent were recycled.
"If this trend
continues, up to 680 million tyres will
be sent to landfill over the next 20 years.
"The Australian
Government will lead work with tyre industry
stakeholders and state and territory governments
to put in place recycling schemes to commence
next year to increase recycling rates and
prevent tyres going to landfill."
In order to get the
scheme's design underway Mr Garrett said
a 'Tyres Roundtable' would be convened in
the coming weeks with the Australian Tyre
Industry Council (ATIC), Australian Tyre
Recyclers Association, Minerals Council
of Australia, Cement Industry Federation,
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries,
Motor Trades Association of Australia, Victorian
Automobile Chamber of Commerce and other
key industry bodies.
Ministers also agreed
to release a report on the state of Australia's
waste later this year.
The EPHC communiqué
will be available at: www.ephc.gov.au .
