

Effectiveness of climate change management
Effectiveness of climate change management
Understanding: Good understanding of broad processes and improving confidence in modelling projections at both the national and regional scales. National greenhouse emissions reporting system is improved
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Understanding: Good understanding of broad processes and improving confidence in modelling projections at both national and regional scales. Extensive support for policy and priority setting at national level through initial Garnaut Climate Change Review (2008) and subsequent review update (2011) and through an improved national greenhouse emissions reporting system
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Planning: More ambitious target (26–28% below 2005 levels by 2030) set after the Paris Agreement
Significant changes in strategies and planning during this period, with establishment of several policy tools in 2011 that were removed or repealed by 2013
Strategic planning at state level significantly improved
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Planning: Australian Government has established a broad (‘three-pillars’) strategy underpinned by a legislated 20% Renewable Energy Target and Energy Efficiency Strategy. In July 2011, the government released a plan to establish a price on carbon and encourage least-cost abatement measures. Legislation to give effect to this is expected to be introduced to parliament in the latter half of 2011. A National Adaptation Framework was adopted by COAG in 2007. Level of strategic planning to mitigate and adapt to climate change varies considerably from state to state (e.g. in relation to adaptation to potential impacts of sea level rise)
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Inputs: Around $13.5 billion committed to climate change initiatives by the Australian Government
Funds available to support climate science at both national and state levels have been significantly reduced
Resources applied by states and territories to mitigation and adaptation programs have been significantly reduced.
Inputs: Around $15 billion committed to climate change initiatives by the Australian Government. Significant funds are available to support climate science at both national and state levels. Significant resources are also being applied by states and territories to mitigation and adaptation programs
Processs: Governance remains complex, with 3 tiers of government involved
Coordination of national, and state and territory programs under Council of Australian Governments actions have progressed (e.g. NEPP), and coordination between state and local governments has improved
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Processes: Governance is complex, with three tiers of government needing to be involved. Coordination of federal and state and territory programs has been improved via COAG actions
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Outputs and outcomes: Current and projected levels of success of national, and state and territory abatement programs suggest targets will be achieved
Some states have achieved targets already. Australia appears on track to achieve the national 2020 target of a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2000 levels, although there is some debate about this
Methodologies used to project attainment of targets appear to be consistent with international guidelines adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Outputs and outcomes: Current and projected levels of success of federal and state and territory abatement programs are limited. To achieve the national 2020 target of a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2000 levels, abatement measures will need to be greatly increased
Assessment Summary Key
Grades
Very effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
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Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is good for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place for addressing all or most significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and operations targeted at major risks. Responsibility for managing issues is clearly and appropriately allocated |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are largely adequate to address management issues. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Well-designed management systems are being implemented for effective delivery of planned management actions, including clear governance arrangements, appropriate stakeholder engagement, active adaptive management and adequate reporting against goals |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are being demonstrably reduced |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is being maintained or improving. Values are considered secured against known threats |
Effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
|
---|---|---|
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is generally good, but there is some variability across management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place, and management responsibilities are allocated appropriately, for addressing many significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and priorities for addressing major risks, but may not specify implementation procedures |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are mostly adequate to address management issues, but may not be secure. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform decisions, although there may be deficiencies in some areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Well-designed management systems are in place, but are not yet being fully implemented |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are in place to manage them |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is improving, but threats remain as significant factors affecting environmental systems |
Partially effective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
|
---|---|---|
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is only fair for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Legislation, policies and planning systems are deficient, and/or there is lack of clarity about who has management responsibility, for several significant issues |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in some important areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions, although there are significant deficiencies in some areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Management systems provide some guidance, but are not consistently delivering on implementation of management actions, stakeholder engagement, adaptive management or reporting |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are progressing and showing signs of achieving some objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are being developed to manage them |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
The expected impacts of management measures on improving resilience of environmental values are yet to be seen. Managed threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems |
Ineffective
Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria |
Description of grade |
|
---|---|---|
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage) |
Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of:
Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities. |
Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is poor for most management issues |
Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on:
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Legislation, policies and planning systems have not been developed to address significant issues |
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Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes) |
Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including:
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Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in many areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information to support decisions is deficient in many areas |
Processes A governance system is in place that provides for:
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Adequate management systems are not in place. Lack of consistency and integration of management activities across jurisdictions is a problem for many issues |
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Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts) |
Outputs Management objectives are being met for:
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Management responses are either not progressing in accordance with planned programs (significant delays or incomplete actions) or the actions undertaken are not achieving their objectives. Threats are not actively being addressed |
Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values. |
Resilience of environmental values is still low or continuing to decline. Unmitigated threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems |
Recent Trends
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Improving
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Stable
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Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
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Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed
Comments
Nil.