Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  3-5
Division/Agency:	International Land and Analysis
Topic:	Rising Sea Levels
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
3. Has the Government investigated the possibility of relocating residents of low lying Torres Strait Islands?
4. What action will the Government undertake to address increased erosion in the Torres Strait Islands?
5. In February Estimates, the Department advised that no specific research or policy work had been undertaken on the impact of rising sea levels on the Torres Strait Islands. Since then, has any work been commissioned? If not, why not?

Answer/s:
3. No.

4. and 5. In December 2005 NHT funding of $300,000 was approved for a Coastal Erosion Impacts Project in the Torres Strait. The project commenced in April 2006 and will continue until September 2007. The project has a focus on community participation in active research, in order to raise the level of awareness and understanding of island erosion processes amongst local island communities.  This research approach will help ensure community support for emerging options for erosion mitigation.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 24 
Division/Agency:	International Land & Analysis Division
Topic:	Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Hansard Page ECITA:	107-108
Senator Carr asked:
Senator CARR—I have some general questions to begin with for the department. Minister, following that previous discussion, could you name any of the Australian companies that have actually accessed the CDM funding?
Senator Ian Campbell—I am certain that Roaring 40s are.
Senator CARR—That is because of the work in China.
Senator Ian Campbell—We are talking about China.
Senator CARR—All right. Which Australian companies are—
Senator Ian Campbell—Are accessing CDM in China?
Senator CARR—Yes.
Senator Ian Campbell—I guess we could get that information.
Senator CARR—Could you do that regarding the Australian companies?
Senator Ian Campbell—I would probably ask the industry association and the Renewable Energy Generators Association.
Answer/s:
Australian firms can, and are, involved in CDM projects both as direct project participants and as suppliers of equipment and expertise. The CDM rules do not discriminate between firms from countries that have and have not ratified the Protocol. 

The Australian Government is supportive of Australian firms such as Roaring 40s Renewable Energy Pty Ltd that are pursuing CDM project opportunities in China and other developing countries. The Australian Government also welcomes the fact that, in 2005, Pacific Hydro Limited was involved in the world’s first bank intermediated carbon credit transaction between two private sector entities involving the purchase of CDM credits.

Involvement in these projects is, however, a commercial matter for individual companies, and does not require them to inform the Australian Government. Therefore, the Government does not maintain a register of Australian firms that are involved in the CDM.

Information on all CDM projects and their participants is available on the official CDM project website at http://cdm.unfccc.int/. This site does not list companies by their nationality. 

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 25 
Division/Agency:	International Land & Analysis Division
Topic:	UN Climate Change report
Hansard Page ECITA:	117 

Senator Carr asked:
I have asked for a copy of the department’s response to this UN committee [UN Climate Change Convention Secretariat – 2006 UNFCCC Greenhouse Gas Data Booklet]. 

Answer/s:
Please find attached (Attachment A) the letter sent on 2 November 2006 to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr Yvo de Boer by Deputy Secretary to the Department of Environment and Heritage, Mr Howard Bamsey, regarding the 2006 UNFCCC Greenhouse Gas Data Booklet.