A new Climate Risk and Opportunity Management Program (CROMP) will support the public service’s decision-making in the transition to net zero, as well as preparedness for the changing climate and lower emissions.
The federal government unveiled the initiative to embed and prioritise environmental risk management in APS processes last week.
The CROMP supports the Roadmap for Net Zero and aligns government operations with net zero by 2030 commitments.
Assistant minister for climate change and energy Jenny McAllister said the program offered a suite of specialist climate-risk training, a support service, upskilling, and a management guide to help departments and agencies deliver better outcomes.
“A better-prepared public service will mean better results for communities, whether that be the uptake of affordable renewable energy in public buildings or supporting farmers to respond to droughts,” McAllister said, noting that it would also allow for better use of government money.
The CROMP aims to ensure commonwealth funding is invested in policies and programs that are resilient to climate change, and also take advantage of energy efficiency and affordable renewable energy.
For example, the embedded decision-making will see to it that building projects are constructed to withstand more frequent heatwaves, increased rainfall or flooding.
It will also help the APS in finding opportunities to generate growth in new markets and trade sectors such as hydrogen and critical minerals.
The whole-of-government resource is also expected to assist the public sector in coordinating, reporting, evaluating and prioritising climate risk management.
“While the former government couldn’t even acknowledge the climate science, the Albanese government is building up the capacity of our institutions and positioning Australia to become a global leader in public sector climate risk and management,” McAllister said.
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