ACT climate change department gets priority funding

Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Policy will be a priority for the ACT government with additional funding of $10.4 million over four years for the new Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW), according to Minister Simon Corbell.

“The ACT government is keeping its election promises to establish Canberra as Australia's solar capital and world model for energy efficiency and sustainability,” Corbell said. “The government has supported a substantial funding boost for the new department so that it has significant policy and planning capacity across the key areas of climate change, renewable energy, water security and environmental sustainability. The department will be a central agency leading and coordinating the development of innovative responses to climate change for our community.

“Climate change is the most critical issue facing us today and is setting the policy agenda at the international, national and regional level. We must work with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions to address climate change. Importantly, we also need to work with the entire community to address the impacts in our region. This extra funding will enable us to engage fully with the Canberra community.”