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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 2791

Foreign Affairs and Trade

(Question No. 1551)

Senator Birmingham asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 15 February 2012:

With reference to the International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative:

(1)   Can a list be provided detailing all grants provided to the Government of Kiribati under the initiative, including the purpose of each grant.

(2)   Have any of these grants been provided for national summits; if so, can details be provided, including:

   (a)   when the summit took place;

   (b)    the total number of attendees;

   (c)   the names of those who participated;

   (d)   the outcomes of the summit;

   (e)    whether Australia sent facilitators; and

   (f)   whether reports were provided to the Australian Government.

Senator Bob Carr: The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1)   Under the International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, the following two grants have been provided to the Government of Kiribati:

   (i)   $250,000 to support the national summit on the Kiribati National Climate Change Framework.

The Government of Kiribati requested support from Australia to hold consultations on their National Climate Change Framework, which was provided by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) in conjunction with AusAID.

   (ii)   $51,000 to support attendance at the Kiribati side event at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen in November and December 2009.

The side event provided an opportunity for the Government of Kiribati to influence the international climate change debate by raising awareness of the challenges faced by island nations like Kiribati. It also provided a forum for sharing knowledge and lessons learned by the Government of Kiribati through implementation of their climate change adaptation programs.

(2)   Yes, for the national summit on the Kiribati National Climate Change Framework, as outlined in response (1)(i) above.

   (a)   16-20 May 2011.

   (b)   Approximately 300 people attended.

   (c)   Attendees included representatives from the majority of Kiribati's outer islands, consisting of community leaders and officials, non-government and faith-based organisation representatives, women and youth. The President of Kiribati, HE Anote Tong, opened the summit. An official from DCCEE was invited and attended three days of the summit. AusAID officials from Australia's High Commission in Kiribati were present.

   (d)   The summit informed the development of the draft National Climate Change Framework and the next Kiribati Development Plan 2012-2015, which are currently subject to approval by the Government of Kiribati. The summit increased awareness and understanding about climate change, and how it relates to existing development priorities. Australia's assistance also enabled the development of Island Resilience Reports, in both English and Kiribati, which will assist island communities in identifying climate change impacts and adaptation measures.

   (e)   The Kiribati Office of the President invited an official from DCCEE to attend the summit. The DCCEE representative assisted in preparations for the summit.

   (f)   The Government of Kiribati has provided a post-activity report to DCCEE.