❓ This WA parliamentary question addresses the impact of climate change on Shark Bay's World Heritage values, government responses, and associated funding. The government acknowledges the threats and outlines existing monitoring initiatives, while a new State Climate Policy is being developed.
AnsweredQoN 2004Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the department undertaken an evaluation of the impact of climate change on the world heritage values of Shark Bay? (2) If yes to (1), can the department outline what those impacts are? (3) How is the Government responding to the threat that climate change poses to Shark Bay? (4) Has any additional funding been made available to specifically address climate change? (5) What was the expenditure on Shark Bay over the last five financial years? (6) What funding is available for Shark Bay over the forward estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 April 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
9 days
(1) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) participated in a climate change vulnerability analysis of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area in September 2018. The analysis involved a workshop convened by the Shark Bay World Heritage Advisory Committee and a report was prepared by the Commonwealth Government’s National Environmental Science Program. The report is available on the Commonwealth’s Department of the Environment and Energy website.
(2) The projected impacts of climate change on Shark Bay include increased storm intensity and frequency, increased average sea temperature, increased air temperature, increased drought frequency and severity, rising sea levels and fewer but more intense tropical cyclones.
(3) The State Government will develop a new State Climate Policy to draw together and build on climate-related initiatives already underway in the State. The Government acknowledges the need to adapt to climate impacts, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in Western Australia, to protect our environment, economy and community. Initiatives already underway for the Shark Bay World Heritage Area include monitoring the condition of key ecological values within the marine park and marine World Heritage area and the pressures acting upon them. This will be used to gain a better understanding of the risks and impacts from climate change to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
(4) Funding arrangements for climate change will be considered as the policy is developed by Government. DBCA utilises existing funding to research climate change impacts on Western Australia’s marine parks and threatened marine fauna. DBCA also undertakes broader collaboration with research institutions that focus on marine climate change related research, including investigations of potential management responses.
(5) Expenditure is not recorded specifically for the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, however DBCA’s recurrent expenditure in its Shark Bay District over the last five years has been as follows:
2013-14 $2,635,857
2014-15 $2,521,571
2015-16 $2,791,832
2016-17 $2,704,617
2017-18 $2,927,701
(6) The anticipated funding for the Shark Bay District for the 2019/20 financial year is $3.1 million.
(2) The projected impacts of climate change on Shark Bay include increased storm intensity and frequency, increased average sea temperature, increased air temperature, increased drought frequency and severity, rising sea levels and fewer but more intense tropical cyclones.
(3) The State Government will develop a new State Climate Policy to draw together and build on climate-related initiatives already underway in the State. The Government acknowledges the need to adapt to climate impacts, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in Western Australia, to protect our environment, economy and community. Initiatives already underway for the Shark Bay World Heritage Area include monitoring the condition of key ecological values within the marine park and marine World Heritage area and the pressures acting upon them. This will be used to gain a better understanding of the risks and impacts from climate change to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
(4) Funding arrangements for climate change will be considered as the policy is developed by Government. DBCA utilises existing funding to research climate change impacts on Western Australia’s marine parks and threatened marine fauna. DBCA also undertakes broader collaboration with research institutions that focus on marine climate change related research, including investigations of potential management responses.
(5) Expenditure is not recorded specifically for the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, however DBCA’s recurrent expenditure in its Shark Bay District over the last five years has been as follows:
2013-14 $2,635,857
2014-15 $2,521,571
2015-16 $2,791,832
2016-17 $2,704,617
2017-18 $2,927,701
(6) The anticipated funding for the Shark Bay District for the 2019/20 financial year is $3.1 million.
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