Published Sunday, 17 August, 2008 at 04:17 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Govt funding to help SE Qld adapt to the reality of climate change
Premier Anna Bligh has announced new research funding to help South-East Queenslanders adapt to life in a changing climate.
The $2 million Smart State Innovation Projects grant goes to a team led by Dr Andrew Ash of the CSIRO and will be used to investigate the current ability of our towns, cities, industry and governments to adapt to forecast climate change conditions.
South East Queensland was identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The ‘Climate Change in Queensland: What the Science is Telling Us’ report noted particular sensitivity to rising sea level, storm surges, bush fires, cyclones and flooding.
“We must do all that we can to prevent this happening - that’s why my government has invested heavily in things like clean coal technology - but we also must do everything in our power to prepare for the worst,” said Premier Anna Bligh.
“One of the things this $2 million grant will do is allow researchers to develop methods of incorporating climate change forecasts into planning and building codes for urban development.
“The program will also seek to ensure climate change impacts are incorporated into public health and natural disaster response management plans.
“Nobody can forecast the future but what we can do is make sure we have the best information possible as we look over the horizon.”
Ms Bligh said an important aspect of the research would be improved climate change projections.
“That will lead to better management plans to improve the resilience of ecosystems, such as Moreton Bay Marine Park and will help farmers develop management systems to better cope with climate variability and change,” she said.
“We need to see how ready we are and what we need to do to improve, at both the State and local community levels,” said the Premier.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Dr Ash’s team would work with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and universities in Queensland.
“They will develop a suite of tools to respond to the effects of climate change, including higher temperatures, changes in rainfall and extreme weather events,” she said.
“Whether we like it or not, climate change is a reality and something we have to live with.”
Dr Ash said the three-year research program would look at practical ways to prepare for climate change.
“Adapting to climate change is nothing really that new to Queenslanders. When you look at how the South East Queensland has adapted to drought, and dwindling water supplies, you can see how well we’ve done in a very short period of time, given the right combination of incentives, regulations and education,” Dr Ash said.
The Innovation Projects Fund is part of the Queensland Government’s $300 million Smart State Innovation Funding program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3.4 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Ms Boyle said.
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
The $2 million Smart State Innovation Projects grant goes to a team led by Dr Andrew Ash of the CSIRO and will be used to investigate the current ability of our towns, cities, industry and governments to adapt to forecast climate change conditions.
South East Queensland was identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The ‘Climate Change in Queensland: What the Science is Telling Us’ report noted particular sensitivity to rising sea level, storm surges, bush fires, cyclones and flooding.
“We must do all that we can to prevent this happening - that’s why my government has invested heavily in things like clean coal technology - but we also must do everything in our power to prepare for the worst,” said Premier Anna Bligh.
“One of the things this $2 million grant will do is allow researchers to develop methods of incorporating climate change forecasts into planning and building codes for urban development.
“The program will also seek to ensure climate change impacts are incorporated into public health and natural disaster response management plans.
“Nobody can forecast the future but what we can do is make sure we have the best information possible as we look over the horizon.”
Ms Bligh said an important aspect of the research would be improved climate change projections.
“That will lead to better management plans to improve the resilience of ecosystems, such as Moreton Bay Marine Park and will help farmers develop management systems to better cope with climate variability and change,” she said.
“We need to see how ready we are and what we need to do to improve, at both the State and local community levels,” said the Premier.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Dr Ash’s team would work with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and universities in Queensland.
“They will develop a suite of tools to respond to the effects of climate change, including higher temperatures, changes in rainfall and extreme weather events,” she said.
“Whether we like it or not, climate change is a reality and something we have to live with.”
Dr Ash said the three-year research program would look at practical ways to prepare for climate change.
“Adapting to climate change is nothing really that new to Queenslanders. When you look at how the South East Queensland has adapted to drought, and dwindling water supplies, you can see how well we’ve done in a very short period of time, given the right combination of incentives, regulations and education,” Dr Ash said.
The Innovation Projects Fund is part of the Queensland Government’s $300 million Smart State Innovation Funding program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3.4 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Ms Boyle said.
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005