Question On Notice No. 4857 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 October 2011 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Parliament: 38 Session: 1
Question
With reference to the Climate Commission report entitled ‘The Critical Decade - Western Australia Climate Change Impacts’ (August 2011), I ask -
(1) What resources and strategies are in place to ensure that the scientific and technical research required to support coastal planning to adapt to climate change impacts is available to local governments?
(2) What strategies and programs were in place to support science research and development relating to climate change in Western Australia in -
(a) 2008-09;
(b) 2009-10; and
(c) 2010-11?
(3) What was the actual expenditure on those strategies and programs in those years?
(4) What strategies and programs are in place to support science research and development relating to climate change in Western Australia in -
(a) 2011-12; and
(b) 2012-13?
(5) How much funding has been allocated for these strategies and programs in those years?
(6) What education programs will be provided for the broader community on the findings of the Climate Commission report?
Answered on 23 November 2011
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response:
(1) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the Western Australian Local Government Association, has developed an online Climate Change Management Toolkit to assist local governments to incorporate climate change considerations into their planning processes and operations, and develop and implement strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Toolkit sets out a methodology for developing adaptation strategies and provides links to scientific and technical resources.
(2)(a)-(c) DEC's programs and strategies in this area consist of:
The Indian Ocean Climate Initiatives Stage 3 (IOCI3) is a climate research partnership between the Western Australian Government, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). IOCI3 was established in March 2008 and is scheduled for completion in June 2012. The Government contributed $4 million over four years. State Government funding is matched by in-kind contributions from CSIRO and BoM.
The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) covers a range of integrated, multi-disciplinary research including Node 2 (climate processes, predictability and impacts in a warming Indian Ocean). In addition, Node 3 (managing and conserving the marine state) led a program of research centred on improving understanding and management of Ningaloo Marine Park.
DEC's Biodiversity and Climate Change Unit seeks to understand the vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change and develop options for adaptation. The Unit builds collaborative projects between DEC and research partners such as the Australia Research Council Linkage Grants and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Fund's Research Grants.
(3)(a) $1 407 000 in 2008/09, not including WAMSI moneys as this was a four-year research program approved in 2005, initiated in 2007 and is to be completed in December 2011. Funding was allocated to research projects across this timeframe and not on an annual basis. The Government committed $21 million to WAMSI.
(b) $1 347 000 in 2009/10, excluding WAMSI.
(c) $849 000 in 2010/11, excluding WAMSI.
(4)(a) See the answer to (2).
(b) These will be determined through development of the Government's Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy.
(5) $337 000 for 2011-12. See the answer to (4)(b) for 2012-13.
(6) DEC's Climate Change Unit provides a variety of information on climate change through the climate change page on DEC's website. DEC staff also regularly give presentations on climate change issues to a range of stakeholders and community forums. These activities are based on the work of the Climate Commission where appropriate.
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