Australian Govt pledges $3.45m for climate planning

The federal government has announced $3.45 million to help local governments and professionals plan for the potentially devastating effects of climate change.

Federal Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong announced $1.55 million for 33 local coastal, rural and urban councils to investigate how climate change would impact on their specific areas. She told the Queensland Media Club the grants of $50,000 would help communities plan for coastal inundation, storm surges, health risks from tropical mosquito-borne diseases and more severe tropical cyclones, which are all set to worsen with climate change.

Senator Wong said Cairns Regional Council in north Queensland and Redland City Council, on Brisbane's bayside, were two areas that faced significant challenges due to their coastal positioning and low lying areas. "The grants will encourage these local governments to build responses to climate change into their everyday operations," she said.