Climate Change - Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW - Central West

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change poses challenges for all sectors of the Australian economy but particularly for those sectors dependent on natural resources, like agriculture and forestry.

Australia's climate is changing and the impacts of climate change can be seen in the differences we are experiencing in rainfall, temperature and extreme weather events. Climate change will influence our actions, choices and decisions.

The Climate Change Division of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry manages Australian Government policies and programs to help primary industries and producers make choices and decisions to adapt and respond to climate change.

The Climate Change Adjustment Program assists farmers in financial difficulty, who are, or are likely to be, adversely impacted by climate change. It helps farmers obtain professional advice, training or to re-establish away from agriculture.

The Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) assists farmers and their families to adjust their businesses to manage the impacts of climate change and to set goals and take action to improve their long-term financial circumstances, either within or outside of agriculture.  Within the Climate Change Adjustment Program there is the following forms of assistance:

  • Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Grant of up to $5500 (GST included) is available to eligible farmers. The grant is available for specialised professional advice and training across a range of areas to assist farmers to adjust to the impacts of climate change. To receive the Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Grant you will be required to undertake a Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment with a Prescribed Adviser and a Climate Change Action Plan with a Rural Financial Counsellor
  • Climate Change Adjustment Program Re-establishment Grant includes re-establishment assistance up to $150,000 to farmers who sell their farming enterprise and undertake not to own or operate a farm enterprise for up to five years

Federal Government

Climate Change Adjustment Program

Department of Climate Change website

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

Australia's Farming Future

Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation New Rural Industries for Future Climates (publication)

  • This project explored the potential for new industries and enterprises to fill land-use opportunities in areas where current agricultural industries may be strongly challenged by future climates. The specific aims were to identify the regions and industries where climate change will alter the current mix of agricultural industries, determine the plant traits required for successful new industries in future climates, and suggest new industries that meet these criteria.

NSW Government

Department of Environment and Climate Change

NSW Industry & Investemetn - DPI Climate Change section

NSW Farmers' Association

Climate Change/Carbon Trading information

Bureau of Meteorology

Climate Change

The Garnaut Review

Final Report, September, 2008

Regional Office Contact Details

RFCS-CW Regional Office
ABN: 54 606 039 416
First Floor, Suite 1, 62 Wingewarra St,
DUBBO NSW 2830

Telephone: 02 6884 2275
Fax: 02 6884 4926
Email: dubbo@rfcs-cw.com.au