Fed: $50 million for Pacific climate programs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2009
Fed: $50 million for Pacific climate programs

CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - Australia is to spend $4.3 million upgrading stations which monitor
sea levels across the Pacific.

Climate change has been the hot topic at the annual Pacific Islands Forum, held this
week in Cairns.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has released more details of how $50 million in
previously-announced climate funding for Pacific nations is to be spent.

As well as money for the sea level stations, $6 million will go towards adapting fisheries
and crops to climate change.

$25 million will be spent on other adaption programs, including protecting water supplies,
preparing for natural disasters, and increasing the resilience of coastal areas in the
face of rising sea levels and storms.

Senator Wong said the funding was part of $150 million for climate adaption overseas,
which would primarily go to the Pacific.

"We want to work very closely with the Pacific Islands on the issue of climate change
because ... many of these regional neighbours, people in our own region, are at the front
line," she told ABC Television on Thursday.

"As a regional power we do have a responsibility to work with them."

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KEYWORD: FORUM CLIMATE

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