The Actuaries Institute has urged the Federal Government to take explicit account of natural disaster risks in the Budget, including those linked to climate change.
A new report estimates meeting 2025 Reef water quality targets would cost $8.2 billion, largely because of the expense of cutting sediment levels in catchment run-off.
Environment ministers have agreed to strengthen controls on particle pollution, speed up work on a national clean air agreement and establish a national standard for the environmental management of chemicals.
The Climate Change Authority today issued its final report on future targets, adhering to its draft recommendation that Australia aim to cut emissions 30% below 2000 levels by 2025.