Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell and US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky announced the projects today at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Campbell said three of the new projects would make a big difference to the ability of Pacific Island countries to deal with climate change.
The five projects include:
Cooperation on geosequestration – Australia and the US will assess the risk; regulate water and air quality; undertake further research; and develop suitable measuring, monitoring and verification processes of carbon dioxide capture and storage;
Climate change and southern hemisphere tropical cyclones – the Australian Bureau of Meteorology will develop a tropical cyclone database for Australia and the South Pacific to help improve understanding of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events in the South Pacific, South Indian and Australian regions;
Building robust and reliable data monitoring infrastructure for climate change monitoring – this project will use appropriate data management techniques to ensure that climate data in Pacific Island countries – including Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa – is secure, accessible, and can be used to develop more informed responses to the impacts of climate change;
Whole farm emission trade-offs – CAP will examine the potential of storing carbon in soils to reduce greenhouse gases and improve soil productivity; and
Pacific biodiversity information forum – this project will help Pacific Island countries to sustainably manage the biological resources most likely to be affected by climate change, including coastal and shallow water resources, and coral reefs.
Campbell said the projects would extend Australia’s program of practical action, which coincided with its involvement in the UN Climate Change Convention.
“As well as taking action through bilateral partnerships such as the CAP, we have already contributed $60 million to more than 40 projects under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate that will help develop the low-emission technologies the world needs,” he said.
“Climate change is a serious problem that requires a ‘multi-track’ approach and we will continue to take action through a range of international forums.”
