Department of Climate Change and environment & Water

Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water Portfolio

Protecting Australia’s Environment, Strengthening Climate Resilience & Securing Our Water Future

Australia’s Climate, Environment & Water Portfolio leads national action on climate change, environmental protection, biodiversity, energy transition, and water security. It coordinates scientific agencies, environmental regulators, climate intelligence services, and national water management systems to safeguard Australia’s natural environment and support long‑term national resilience.

 

Our Purpose

We create policies and programs to:

  • combat climate change and develop a smart energy system for the future
  • protect our unique environment, wildlife, and heritage
  • manage Australia’s water resources for industries and local communities
  • take care of Australia’s interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

We rely on science. We’re innovative and work together. We focus on what’s ahead.

Our Role

Our work covers many areas.

We manage Australia’s valuable resources on land and water, in towns and cities. We:

  • promote actions for climate change and invest in cleaner technologies
  • ensure we have a reliable and affordable energy system
  • protect Australia’s wildlife and natural heritage
  • support wise management of natural resources
  • oversee Australia’s water resources for the environment, industries, and communities
  • provide information and analysis on climate, energy, and the environment.

Working with You

We collaborate with stakeholders, governments, and the community to meet our goals.

We welcome feedback through:

  • public consultations
  • industry meetings
  • advisory committees
  • international discussions
  • connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Our Business

To achieve our goals, we:

  • provide advice to the Australian Government
  • run programs
  • oversee laws and regulations.

We are a regulatory body.

We enforce laws regarding:

  • protection of the environment and wildlife
  • use of harmful substances and pollutants
  • import and export of wildlife
  • fuel quality
  • offshore greenhouse gas storage.

 

 

Climate Change

Climate Policy & Emissions Reduction Division

Safeguarding Australia’s Natural Environment & Wildlife

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Develop national climate policy & emissions frameworks

  • Coordinate adaptation planning across governments

  • Support industry transition & climate innovation

  • Monitor national emissions performance

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • National climate policy

  • Emissions reduction frameworks

  • Adaptation plans

  • Emissions reporting & analysis

 

Environmental protection

Safeguarding Australia’s Natural Environment & Wildlife

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Manage environmental regulation & approvals

  • Protect threatened species & ecosystems

  • Oversee national parks & conservation programs

  • Lead biodiversity monitoring & restoration

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Environmental assessments

  • Conservation programs

  • Biodiversity monitoring

  • National park management

 

 

 

 

 

Energy & Sustainability Division

Supporting Australia’s Renewable Energy Transition

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Develop clean energy policy & programs

  • Support renewable energy investment & innovation

  • Improve energy efficiency & sustainability standards

  • Coordinate national energy transition planning

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Renewable energy programs

  • Clean energy policy

  • Efficiency standards

  • Transition planning tools

 

 

Water Resources & River Systems Division

Securing Australia’s Water Future

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Manage national water policy & river systems

  • Oversee Murray–Darling Basin planning & compliance

  • Provide hydrological modelling & water data

  • Support water security for communities & industry

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Water policy & planning

  • Basin management frameworks

  • Hydrological modelling

  • National water data

 

Environmental Science, Data & Monitoring Division

Delivering Environmental Intelligence for National Decision‑Making

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Monitor air, water, soil & ecological health

  • Provide environmental data & reporting

  • Support scientific research & modelling

  • Strengthen national environmental information systems

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Environmental monitoring data

  • National environmental reports

  • Scientific modelling

  • Information system upgrades

Hazard Preparedness & Climate Resilience Division

Protecting Australians from Extreme Weather & Climate Impacts

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Coordinate national hazard preparedness

  • Support emergency services with climate intelligence

  • Lead resilience planning & risk reduction programs

  • Strengthen community preparedness & adaptation

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Hazard preparedness frameworks

  • Climate resilience programs

  • Emergency service intelligence

  • Community adaptation tools

 

 

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)

Australia’s National Weather & Climate Intelligence Agency

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Deliver weather forecasts & severe weather warnings

  • Provide climate outlooks & long‑range modelling

  • Support emergency services during extreme weather

  • Maintain radar, satellite & environmental monitoring

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Forecasts & alerts

  • Climate modelling

  • Hazard intelligence

  • Environmental monitoring

 

 

 

 

ustralian Climate Service (ACS)

Integrating Climate, Hazard & Impact Data for National Resilience

🟡 WHAT THEY DO

  • Combine climate, hazard, exposure & impact data

  • Support emergency management & national planning

  • Provide climate risk intelligence to governments

  • Strengthen national resilience to extreme weather

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Integrated climate datasets

  • Climate risk assessments

  • Emergency management intelligence

  • Adaptation planning tools

 

 

 

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)

Protecting the World’s Largest Coral Reef System

  • Manage reef protection & conservation programs

  • Monitor reef health & climate impacts

  • Support tourism, science & community partnerships

  • Lead reef resilience planning

Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)

Managing Australia’s Most Important River System

  • Oversee Basin planning & compliance

  • Support sustainable water use

  • Monitor river health & environmental flows

  • Coordinate Basin‑wide water management

Key Problems in Australia’s Climate & Environment System

Australia faces escalating climate risks, biodiversity decline, water scarcity, and increasing extreme weather events. Ageing environmental monitoring systems, fragmented climate data, and inconsistent national coordination weaken resilience. Water security challenges, habitat loss, and slow environmental approvals further strain ecosystems and communities. Strengthening climate intelligence, environmental protection, and national adaptation capability is essential for Australia’s long‑term prosperity and safety.