❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on how it addresses climate change within its sectoral responsibilities, including adaptation, mitigation, and modification of activities. The DEC outlines various initiatives and research efforts, integrating climate change considerations into existing programs.
AnsweredQoN 3552Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the first paragraph of the answer given to my question without notice No. 27 on 16 February 2011, and I ask -
(1) Apart from the work of the climate change unit, is the Department of Environment and Conservation addressing climate change issues as it affects the Department’s sectoral responsibilities?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), which climate change issues have been identified as affecting the Department’s sectoral responsibilities?
(4) In respect of each issue identified, how is it being addressed (please provide full details) in terms of, -
(a) adaptation;
(b) mitigation; and
(c) modification of activities likely to maintain or increase the severity of the impacts of climate change?
(5) In respect of each answer to (4), -
(a) how much funding has been allocated to this work;
(b) how many FTE staff have been allocated to this work; and
(c) how is success being measured?
(6) Regarding the answer to (5)(c), is this information publicly available?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) If yes to (6), where is it publicly reported and how often is it updated?
(1) Apart from the work of the climate change unit, is the Department of Environment and Conservation addressing climate change issues as it affects the Department’s sectoral responsibilities?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), which climate change issues have been identified as affecting the Department’s sectoral responsibilities?
(4) In respect of each issue identified, how is it being addressed (please provide full details) in terms of, -
(a) adaptation;
(b) mitigation; and
(c) modification of activities likely to maintain or increase the severity of the impacts of climate change?
(5) In respect of each answer to (4), -
(a) how much funding has been allocated to this work;
(b) how many FTE staff have been allocated to this work; and
(c) how is success being measured?
(6) Regarding the answer to (5)(c), is this information publicly available?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) If yes to (6), where is it publicly reported and how often is it updated?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(1) Yes
(2) Not applicable
(3-4) Consideration of climate change is integrated into the department's sectoral responsibilities wherever appropriate. For example, in respect of adaptation:
· DEC undertakes research into the effects of climate change on biodiversity, including through membership of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution and participation in the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative;
· climate change is taken into account in conservation reserve planning and management, and in recovery plans for threatened species and ecological communities;
· DEC is a participant in the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodlandand Forest Health;
· DEC has developed planning and operational procedures for planned burning to consider current climate conditions including seasonal dryness; and
· in the area of forest management, modelling and sustained yield calculations include adaptive settings in respect of tree growth and forest health, and a report into
Vulnerability of forests in south-west Western Australia to timber harvesting under the influence of climate change
(October 2010) is publicly available through the DEC website.
In respect of mitigation:
· DEC measures its emissions through the System forAccounting and Reporting Government Emissions (SARGE);
· DEC has an internal workplace sustainability program called
DECrease
that incorporates sustainability principles, including energy efficiency and resource use, into itsoperations and decision-making. For example, the department has developed an energy management plan to reduce its stationary energy footprint and the department's Atrium tenancy is a signatory to the national City Switch Green Office program;
· DEC is reducing its fuel consumption and emissions for new vehicle purchases, unless there is a specific operational need;
· DEC is participating in a trial of electric vehicle technology;
· DEC implements the
CleanRun Ecodrive
,
TravelSmart workplace
and
AirWatch
initiatives
.
These behaviour change programs are implemented to achieve air quality and climate change benefits within targeted sectors of the community; and
· DEC promotes greenhouse gas capture from licensed landfill sites.
(5a-b) As consideration of climate change is integrated into delivery of the department's sectoral responsibilities, there is generally no separately identifiable allocation of resources to climate change aspects, other than in the case of DEC Science Division's Climate Change and Biodiversity Unit which has a budget allocation of $380,000 and the
DECrease
project which has an allocation of $200,000.
(c) The measures of the success of the above initiatives are embedded in the performance measures of the department's services and are not separately reported.
(6-8) Information is available in the department's annual report and on the website.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2) Not applicable
(3-4) Consideration of climate change is integrated into the department's sectoral responsibilities wherever appropriate. For example, in respect of adaptation:
· DEC undertakes research into the effects of climate change on biodiversity, including through membership of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution and participation in the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative;
· climate change is taken into account in conservation reserve planning and management, and in recovery plans for threatened species and ecological communities;
· DEC is a participant in the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodlandand Forest Health;
· DEC has developed planning and operational procedures for planned burning to consider current climate conditions including seasonal dryness; and
· in the area of forest management, modelling and sustained yield calculations include adaptive settings in respect of tree growth and forest health, and a report into
Vulnerability of forests in south-west Western Australia to timber harvesting under the influence of climate change
(October 2010) is publicly available through the DEC website.
In respect of mitigation:
· DEC measures its emissions through the System forAccounting and Reporting Government Emissions (SARGE);
· DEC has an internal workplace sustainability program called
DECrease
that incorporates sustainability principles, including energy efficiency and resource use, into itsoperations and decision-making. For example, the department has developed an energy management plan to reduce its stationary energy footprint and the department's Atrium tenancy is a signatory to the national City Switch Green Office program;
· DEC is reducing its fuel consumption and emissions for new vehicle purchases, unless there is a specific operational need;
· DEC is participating in a trial of electric vehicle technology;
· DEC implements the
CleanRun Ecodrive
,
TravelSmart workplace
and
AirWatch
initiatives
.
These behaviour change programs are implemented to achieve air quality and climate change benefits within targeted sectors of the community; and
· DEC promotes greenhouse gas capture from licensed landfill sites.
(5a-b) As consideration of climate change is integrated into delivery of the department's sectoral responsibilities, there is generally no separately identifiable allocation of resources to climate change aspects, other than in the case of DEC Science Division's Climate Change and Biodiversity Unit which has a budget allocation of $380,000 and the
DECrease
project which has an allocation of $200,000.
(c) The measures of the success of the above initiatives are embedded in the performance measures of the department's services and are not separately reported.
(6-8) Information is available in the department's annual report and on the website.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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