|
The Office of Climate Change was established in the Department of Environment and Conservation in May 2007.
Sections in this page:
Mission Statement
The Western Australian Government and community is fully enabled to undertake the most effective action to reduce greenhouse emissions and adapt to climate change through national and international representation, key State climate change programs and coordinated Government initiatives.
The Office of Climate Change is responsible for whole of government policy and strategy focussing on the economic, environmental and social impacts of climate change. It will:
- Lead development policy advice on greenhouse issues in Western Australia and coordinate whole of government responses to climate change related issues.
- Develop and implement the WA Climate Change Bill and any consequential amendments to other State Acts of Parliament, including administrative procedures and detailed policy development.
- Implement the Government's adaptation to climate change program, coordinate the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI) and translate and communicate climate change science for Government policies and programs, the community and industry.
- Work across each sector of the economy in conjunction with relevant State agencies to assess greenhouse gas abatement opportunities and policy measures.
- Work with conservation and natural resource management agencies and organisations to develop and monitor implementation of climate change policies and programs to protect biodiversity, create carbon sinks and other environmental benefits.
- Analyse monitoring and reporting data, and prepare advice to Government on trends and issues, and develop standards and methodologies for greenhouse gas monitoring, reporting, accounting and registration.
- Develop and support a WA offsets policy and WA Government offset programs.
- Provide advice to the Environmental Protection Authority and other statutory authorities on climate change and greenhouse policy.
- Coordinate monitoring, reporting and evaluation of climate change policies and programs across Government.
- Implement climate change education and communication programs.
The Office of Climate Change is headed by Asssistant Director Steve Waller and supports the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, David Templeman.
Page Top
Premier's Climate Change Action Statement
On 6 May 2007, Premier Alan Carpenter released a major statement Climate Change: Making Decisions for the Future.
The statement outlines a range of new policies and programs that the Government will be implementing to tackle climate change.
Key features of the Premier's Climate Change Action Statement include:
- a target to reduce emissions by at least 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050
- a $36.5 million Low Emission Energy Development Fund
- a target to increase renewable energy generation on the South West Interconnected System to 15 per cent by 2020 and 20 per cent by 2025
- a clean energy target of 50 per cent by 2010 and 60 per cent by 2020
- State Government purchase of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2010
- a mandatory energy efficiency program that will require large and medium energy users to invest in cost effective energy efficiency measures
- tripling the successful solar schools program so more than 350 schools will be using renewable energy by 2010
- a new $1.5 million Household Sustainability Audit and Education program that will provide practical information to households about how they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- investing $8.625 million to help businesses and communities adapt to the impacts of climate change
- the development of new climate change legislation
- a commitment to establishment of a national emissions trading scheme.
The Government also committed to establish a new Office of Climate Change to support the roles and responsibilities of the Minister for Climate Change. The Office of Climate Change will be based in the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Click here to visit Climate Change : Making Decisions for the Future, on the Act Now website
Page Top
Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change on WA
Statement by the Premier, March 2007
The State Government has committed $4million to support stage three of the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI), a climate research partnership between the State Government, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.
Stage three expands earlier strategic research on the South-West and will include new research on the North-West and the development of future regional climate scenarios.
A further $4.625million has been committed to identify regions and sectors in WA most vulnerable to climate change impacts and to develop adaptation programs.
The State Government has a range of initiatives designed to address climate change.
These include:
- developing and committing to the introduction of a National Emissions Trading Scheme by 2010;
- investing in renewable energy through our commitment to purchasing 20 per cent of Government's energy requirements from renewable sources by 2010, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 90,000 tonnes per year;
- reducing the need for cars by almost doubling the size of the Perth rail network - through building the new southern rail line, taking 25,000 cars off our roads;
- spending mor
| 
