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Climate change

According to CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology projections, the NSW community needs to prepare for higher temperatures, less rainfall, more frequent and more severe droughts and more extreme storms. These changes are likely to have significant impacts on agriculture, water supply, settlements and infrastructure, natural resources, biodiversity and human health.

Responding to climate change

DECC coordinates the NSW Government's response to climate change. DECC's wide range of climate change programs include:

• strategies to reduce emissions, encourage efficient use of water and promote adaptation to climate change impacts
• research to better understand the effects of climate change on biodiversity and conservation planning
• development of a resilient system of protected areas to help minimise the effects of climate change on the environment
• the Sustainability Advantage Program, which assists business to improve environmental performance.

The broader whole-of-government approach to reducing the impacts of climate change is outlined in the NSW Greenhouse Plan, the NSW State Plan and the Climate Change Action Plan, which is currently under development. Key initiatives include:

• progressing a national emissions trading scheme and a mandatory renewable energy target through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
• providing financial support to households, schools, business and industry for water, energy and emission savings through the Climate Change Fund and establishing the NSW Energy Savings Scheme
• ensuring homes and units are designed to use less potable water and create fewer greenhouse gas emissions by setting energy and water reduction targets through the Building Sustainability Index online planning tool
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme and establishing new energy efficiency targets under the scheme
• implementing the $150-million NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy.

Find out more on the following topics on DECC's climate change website

• An introduction to climate change, its causes and evidence
• Information on how climate change will impact NSW
• Reports and publications on climate change
• Local, national and international action to combat climate change