New South Wales Government

Department of

Environment and Climate Change

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About DECC

The Department of Environment and Climate Change was formed on 27 April 2007 to enable a more integrated response to the unprecedented challenges presented by climate change.

Broadly, the Department of Environment and Climate Change:

• works towards a healthy environment cared for and enjoyed by the whole NSW community
• manages the state's natural resources, including biodiversity, soils and natural vegetation
• manages natural and cultural heritage across the state's land and waters
• acts to minimise the impacts of climate change
• promotes sustainable consumption, resource use and waste management
• regulates activities to protect the environment
• conducts biodiversity, plant, environmental and cultural heritage research to improve decision making.

DECC's wide-ranging responsibilities include:

• climate change and greenhouse issues, including the new climate change fund
• air and water quality, noise control, and regulation of chemicals and radiation
• programs to reduce waste, toxicity, litter and illegal dumping
• national parks and reserves, including management of marine parks
• biodiversity, threatened species and native vegetation management
• protection of soils and land and catchment management
• environmental water management and coastal lakes and estuaries
• Aboriginal cultural heritage and historic sites
• sustainability programs, including environmental education, energy efficiency and water conservation programs and renewable energy policy
• botanic gardens - Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens

DECC operates under a number of well-recognised 'brands' and legislative authorities. The National Parks and Wildlife Service logo remains associated with our national parks. In regulatory matters for environment protection, DECC acts under the powers of the statutory Environment Protection Authority. Staff of the Botanic Gardens Trust (BGT) are part of DECC, although BGT and its Board of Trustees are responsible separately to the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. DECC also administers programs on behalf of the statutory Environmental Trust and supports the Marine Parks Authority and catchment management authorities.