251
outlined in Section 16.2. A summary description of relevant legislation and policy is provided in
Table
16.1
and
Figure 16.1
.
Table 16.1
draws on the review of relevant legislation, governance arrangements and policy to illustrate
the coverage of the policy framework for each sector within which adaptation to climate change needs to
be addressed. The sectors align with those identified in the South Australian Government’s
Climate
Change Adaptation Framework
. Refer also to
Appendix D
for more detailed information.
16.2.1. Commonwealth Government
At the Commonwealth level, Australia has international treaty commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to
address climate change and to implement climate change adaptation. To fulfil these commitments, the
Australian Government has released its Clean Energy Futures Plan, which include legislative and policy
measures for addressing carbon emissions reductions as well as climate change adaptation. This
includes
Clean Energy Act 2011
and the
Climate Change Authority Act 2011.
The Australian Government has also established a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework
which outlines the Government's vision for adapting to the impacts of climate change. This is supported
by the Climate Change Adaptation Program, and includes initiatives to improve the community’s
knowledge of the impacts of climate change, strengthen the capacity of decision-makers to respond and
address major areas of national vulnerability.
16.2.2. State Government
At the State level, the
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act 2007
established
commitments for the South Australian Government to put in place strategies to mitigate and adapt to
climate change. This legislation allows for agreements to be developed between relevant organisations
(e.g. local government, industry associations, businesses) and the Minister for Sustainability,
Environment and Conservation to define joint approaches towards addressing emissions reduction and
climate change adaptation.
The Act requires the operation of the Act to be reported on a two-yearly basis. The Report of December
2011 highlighted a broad range of government programs and policy initiatives being delivered that relate
to elements of the Act, many of which result in adaptation outcomes Key topics were:
x
Sustainable housing
x
Climate smart buildings and precincts
x
Encouraging sustainable behaviour
x
Adaptation
x
Lower emission transport options
x
Green futures
