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- To enable migration of plants and animals, and changes in the distribution of wildlife populations and ecosystems, there should be flexibility in future national park design, increased reserve areas, and the incorporation of corridors into reserve design to assist in migration (State and Federal Governments).
- Given the projections for reduced flows in southern Australian river systems, agreements made today regarding water allocations should apply the precautionary principle and reduce diversions from rivers to increase environmental flows (State and Federal Governments).
- Healthy ecosystems are better able to adapt to climate change, so there needs to be increased effort to reduce the fragmentation and degradation of ecosystems not currently protected or represented in reserves. This includes ensuring an end to broadscale landclearing. (State and Federal Governments).
- Natural resource management agencies – such as for fisheries, forestry, pastoralism, agriculture and water – need to incorporate projected changes in climate into planning and regulation of existing and potential primary industries (State and Federal Governments).
- Government, non-government and industry groups need to plan for the sustainable management of land and water under changing climatic conditions in the more than 90 percent of Australia outside the conservation reserve system.
- Ensure strong international progress in global reductions of greenhouse gases by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 and taking a leadership role in the setting of deep reduction targets in the second commitment period (Federal Government).
- Support and encourage a regional Asia – Pacific co-operative effort to avoid the damaging social, economic and ecological impacts of climate change in the region (Federal Government).
- Set a national target that goes beyond the Kyoto Protocol target, for the reduction of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions well below 1990 levels by 2010 (Federal Government).
- Undertake major reform of the electricity industry to encourage greater uptake of renewable energy and a decline in the share of power provided by coal (State and Federal Governments).
- Increase the level and strength of community campaigns against new fossil fuel developments with high greenhouse gas pollution levels (Environment groups and supporters).
- Undertake a major national scientific research program to fully assess the impact of climate change on Australia’s plants, animals and ecosystems and identify measures to avoid irreversible damage (State and Federal Government).
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Great Barrier Reef
Image courtesy of World Wide Fund For Nature
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