DCM > Policy & Legislation > Climate Change

Chief Minister's message

Every day we see in the paper or hear on the news something about climate change. Our children come home from school with new information about how we can save energy, recycle and how to live with minimal impact on the Territory, Australia and the planet as a whole.

I know from talking to many Territorians that there is significant interest in the many issues surrounding climate change and particularly what we, as individuals, can do.

Territorians also want to know what part the Northern Territory (NT) Government is doing to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

This website is a portal to useful information which will help us move towards sustainable lifestyles and to understand the changes.

Development of the NT Climate Change Policy

Climate change is here!

It is critical that the NT positions itself strategically during this time when national and international climate change policy development will make a difference to the way that we go about our everyday lives and manage our businesses.

During 2008, I will be developing a climate change policy for the NT. There will be input from business and industry, environmental groups, Indigenous Territorians, householders and scientists. The policy will also be informed by the national climate change agenda, including the release of the Garnaut Climate Change Review Final Report in October 2008. The NT's climate change policy will be finalised in February 2009.

The Discussion Paper on NT Climate Change Issues was released on 5 June 2008.  In response to the Discussion Paper, Territorians have put forward a number of substantive issues, and have offered a number of strategies to tackle climate change in the Territory. 

Submissions to the Discussion Paper are available to read on this website, and will provide valuable input to the development of the NT’s climate change policy.

In addition to the public consultations held in June 2008 to explore issues raised in the Discussion Paper, I will also be conducting a range of activities to inform and engage all sectors of the Territory community on climate change during 2008.  The dates for these activities are posted on this website and will be updated regularly.

The Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family – it is essential we act now against climate change to keep it that way.

Paul Henderson
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Minister for Climate Change