Senator Trish Crossin has welcomed the Rudd Government announcement that $198,500 will be provided for a study to assess how climate change will impact on Indigenous communities in northern Australia.
Date: 24 September 2008
Senator Trish Crossin has welcomed the Rudd Government announcement that $198,500 will be provided for a study to assess how climate change will impact on Indigenous communities in northern Australia.
“Indigenous communities located in the tropical north face particular challenges because of their isolation and socio-economic situation,” Senator Crossin said.
“Presently, we have a limited understanding of how climate change will affect Indigenous communities, their resilience and their capacity to adapt.
“This study will examine the impacts to health, the environment, infrastructure, education and employment.”
The study will identify knowledge gaps and priorities for future research and on-ground actions for Indigenous communities.
It will examine opportunities for Indigenous communities in areas such as fire abatement schemes and the value of Indigenous knowledge in adapting to climate change.
“When completed, this study will provide a valuable resource for determining what actions need to be taken to reduce the impact of climate change on these communities,” Senator Crossin said.
The Rudd Government is committed to tackling climate change by reducing carbon pollution, helping to secure a global solution and providing support for communities to adapt to the effects of unavoidable climate change.
The study will be conducted by the University of New South Wales, together with CSIRO, the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance and other research organisations and it is expected to be completed by April 2009.
The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation and the Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts and co-funding the study with the Department of Climate Change.
Support is being provided by other Australian Government departments, including Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and the Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.