Minister for Climate Change and Energy
House of Representatives Question No. 337
Ms Daniel asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, in writing, on 04 September 2023:
- Does the Government agree that climate change is an existential threat to nations and communities around the world, including Australia.
- What approaches to assessing and managing climate risks does the Government think are necessary and appropriate when the threat is considered existential.
- What written guidelines or methodologies are there that guide the Government’s approach to assessing and managing such climate risks.
MR BOWEN: The answer to the Member’s question is as follows:
- The Australian Government accepts the science of climate change and recognises that even with strong global action to reduce emissions, the impacts of climate change will continue to increase over the coming decades due to past emissions of greenhouse gasses.
- The Australian Government is committed to identifying and managing climate risks and is taking concerted action to adapt to climate impacts and to build resilience and disaster readiness in our communities.
The 2023–24 Budget invested $27.4 million over 2 years to identify, prioritise and respond to nationally significant risks to Australia through the National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan. This will provide a robust and scientifically sound evidence base for government investment in adaptation measures.
Australia’s first National Adaptation Plan will be the blueprint for adapting to nationally significant climate risks. It will build an agreed, nationally consistent pathway that prioritises Australia’s adaptation actions and opportunities. The National Adaptation Plan will be based on both the world-class science of the National Climate Risk Assessment and on extensive consultation.
The Climate Risk and Opportunity Management Program is a $9.3 million Program to uplift climate risk capability and capacity across Australian Public Sector organisations and support users to identify, assess prioritise, manage and disclose their climate risks and opportunities. The Government has also committed to considering the impacts of climate change in decision making processes.
- The Climate Risk and Opportunity Management Program includes guides and tools to uplift climate risk management across all levels of government. These are expected to be published on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website in the coming weeks.
A methodology for the National Climate Risk Assessment published in September 2023.
The outcomes of the Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plan will be made publicly available to help government, industry, businesses and communities to better understand their climate risks and inform their adaptation actions. Outcomes of the first stage of the Risk Assessment are expected to be published before the end of 2023.
