Print this pageClimate Change and Water
There is no greater challenge now facing our world and our nation than dangerous climate change. Australia is on the front line to suffer the impacts of climate change as a result of our increasing water scarcity, finely balanced natural environment and our large resources and energy sector. Yet Australia also has the potential to become a world leader in the fast-growing technologies and industries that will enable economies to reduce their carbon emissions.
The cost of inaction on climate change will be much greater than the cost of taking action now. The Australian Government is committed to decisive action on climate change, to prepare Australia for the transformation of the global economy to low carbon energy sources. The Government’s action plan on climate change includes:
- Establishing a national emissions trading market by 2010 – to enable the market to set a price for carbon, unleash innovation and create strong market incentives to reduce carbon emission levels.
- Implementing the Kyoto Protocol and strong support for a new global climate change agreement to take us beyond 2012.
- Establishing a national emissions trading scheme by 2010.
- Investing in low carbon technologies such as clean coal and renewables.
- Setting a 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020 to dramatically expand the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
- Implementing a $200 million Great Barrier Reef Rescue Plan to help secure the Reef from the serious threat posed by climate change and declining water quality.
Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol
The first official act of the new Australian Government was the Prime Minister’s signing of the documents that enable Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The official documentation was presented by the Prime Minister to the Head of the United Nations at the Climate Change conference in Bali in December 2007.
The Kyoto Protocol is the most far-reaching agreement on the environment and sustainable development ever adopted. Australia’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country’s efforts to fight climate change domestically – and with the international community.
Australia is also playing an important role in the new round of international negotiations for a global climate agreement to take us beyond 2012, when the first round of carbon emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol expire. The framework for these negotiations, known as the “Bali Roadmap”, was agreed in December 2007 at the United Nations conference on climate change in Bali.
20% renewable energy target
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the major challenges in tackling climate change. The Government is implementing a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target for Australia to reach by 2020 – so that by 2020 renewable energy sources will produce enough energy to meet the energy needs of all Australian households. This will help fast-track the development of new renewable technologies, such as solar, wind and geothermal energy, also known as hot dry rock technology, and help to achieve overall emission reductions at lower cost.
TopA national plan to tackle the water crisis
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth. As the impact of climate change intensifies, Australia faces increasingly acute long-term water shortages both in our cities and regional areas – with lower rainfall, rivers drying up and dam water levels falling. Tackling the water crisis is a major long term priority for the Australian Government.
Tackling the water crisis and securing our future water supply requires all Australians to work together to use water more efficiently, cut water wastage, more effectively capture rain and stormwater, and adapt to the impact of climate change.
The Rudd Government will tackle the water crisis with a national plan to invest in water infrastructure, sustain our farming communities, revitalise our rivers and waterways, secure water supplies in our cities and towns and ensure that we become smarter and more efficient in our water usage.
The Government will invest in greater use of recycled water, desalination and stormwater through a $1 billion urban water infrastructure fund. The Government will also assist households to install water and energy efficient products, with rebates for rainwater tanks and solar hot water.
The Government will also be working cooperatively with State and Local Governments, farmers, industry and the community to secure Australia’s long-term water supply.
For further information, visit the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website at www.environment.gov.au