AusAID / Aid issues / Environment

Strategic goals

Sustainable economic development

Other information

Environment

Contact //Tel: +61 2 6178 4000
Fax: +61 2 6178 4880 // Post: GPO Box 887, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Overview
See our results
Funding
Research
Statistics

Australian fire-fighter supervision fire management training in Africa

Recognition for Australian fire-fighters supporting an African fire management campaign

Saving the Pacific's fishing stocks and marine eco-systems

a woman walking next to a polluted river

The Launch of the Environment Management Guide for Australia's Aid Program 2012

Child from Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Supporting global sustainable development efforts

How we are helping

Our funding for 2011/12

$662 million

Program	2011-12 ($ million)
Total	662
Country	224
Global	286
Regional	152

Sustainable economic development—see our Environment initiatives

Reducing the negative impacts of environmental degradation is a key pillar in promoting sustainable economic development. Australia's aid program includes both targeted and multi-sectoral initiatives that will deliver environmental outcomes. Without intervention, the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change will erode and reverse development gains and jeopardise the livelihoods of poor people. People in developing countries who depend on the natural environment for their income, food and water are particularly vulnerable to these impacts and often lack the capacity to respond effectively to climate related disasters such as floods and droughts.

The cross-cutting benefits of action on environmental sustainability in meeting broader development objectives means that many of Australia's aid program initiatives produce positive environmental benefits for the poor. Over the last three years, funding for all activities with an environment component has grown by around $300 million. In 2011-12, this included integrated, multi-sectoral initiatives in some 23 countries and four regions.

Our programs promote sustainable livelihoods and increase resilience to environmental stresses, and our climate change and environment activities directly support MDG7 – Ensuring environmental sustainability. Australia also directly targets environmental sustainability initiatives at the global and regional scale. In 2011-12, Australia provided approximately $30.5 million for such initiatives. These included support for the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Program, the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund, the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

Following the Government’s announcement on 17 December 2012 to reprioritise resources within the aid budget, the 2012-13 budget estimate for targeted environment programs has not been impacted. However, because environment is integrated across our global, regional and country programs, any specific changes are reflected in their respective funding profiles.

Australia remains committed to the promotion of sustainable economic development that benefits the poor, effectively manages natural resources and social capital and attracts private investment.

Sustainable Economic Development

See our initiatives

Reducing the negative impacts of climate change and other environmental factors is a key pillar in promoting sustainable economic development. The environment is integral to the economic prosperity of many developing countries, accounting for 30 per cent of the wealth of least developed countries. Activities to improve environmental outcomes can directly improve the livelihoods of those that depend on the environment for their livelihoods and food security.

The aid program supports environmental activities in some 23 countries and four regions. Results achieved as part of these activities are detailed against each initiative or country program. Activities range from forest conservation in Sri Lanka and support for ecosystem-based management of Pacific fisheries to urban planning and waste disposal in Tonga.

In 2010-11, Australia's aid program, through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) [external website] contributed to over 600 projects in 117 countries addressing issues such as land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change and promoting sustainable development pathways and livelihoods. Similarly, through the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, Australia's aid program has assisted developing countries to adopt development pathways that avoid the use of ozone depleting substances. Since 1991, the Multilateral Fund has invested in some 6,200 projects and activities in 148 countries.

In May 2012, Australia co-hosted the Development Cooperation Symposium in Brisbane in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The symposium brought together development cooperation partners from across the globe to address the challenges of coherence in international development assistance to achieving sustainable development and, in particular, MDG 7. The symposium laid down foundations for discussions regarding the post-2015 UN development agenda, which will shape the future of the MDGs.

Achieving more than just environment outcomes

Strong environmental outcomes also support the other strategic goals of the aid program, including saving lives—by improving public health, and promoting opportunities for all—by empowering women to participate in the economy.

For example, better environmental management could prevent 40 per cent of deaths from malaria, 41 per cent of deaths from lower respiratory infections, and 94 per cent of deaths from diarrhoeal disease. Improved environmental conditions can decrease the burden on women and children who are largely responsible for producing food and collecting water for household needs.

Positive environmental outcomes can also lessen the threat of conflict and social unrest. Environmental degradation often acts as a threat multiplier for conflict and social unrest as people compete for shrinking natural resources. Migration resulting from people responding to dwindling natural resources, can also lead to conflict.

Our funding for 2010/11

$646 million

Program	2010-11 ($ million)
Total	646
Bilateral programs	237
Regional programs	132
Global programs	277

Australia's aid program includes both targeted and multi-sectoral initiatives that will deliver environmental outcomes. In 2010-11, Australia provided approximately $38 million for targeted environmental sustainability initiatives at the global and regional scale. These included support for the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Program, the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund, the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

In addition to targeted support, the cross-cutting benefits of action on environmental sustainability in meeting broader development objectives means that many of Australia's aid program initiatives produce positive environmental benefits for the poor. In 2010-11, this included integrated, multi-sectoral initiatives valued at approximately $608 million in some 23 countries and four regions. Results achieved as part of these activities are reported by country programs.

Historical funding

Graph of Australia's development assistance for environmental sustainability.

The graph above shows Australia's development assistance for environmental sustainability.

The exact values are as follows:

2008-09: $247 million.
2009-10: $378 million.
2010-11: $646 million.

Research overview

Good research can lead to positive change for the world's poorest by enhancing the design and implementation of development policies and programs. That's why AusAID is committed to an innovative research portfolio and funds research, including through:

competitive funding mechanisms (such as the Australian Development Research Awards)
research partnerships with different Australian, international and developing country research institutions
commissioning research to address a specific question or clearly defined research gap, and
one-off research grants, when an existing program of research is relevant to the Australian aid program.

More information on how AusAID funds research

Statistics

Number of people who depend on fisheries, forests, and agriculture for employment¹	1.3 billion
The number of people in Africa and South East Asia that rely on fish and other marine foods like seaweed to provide half their essential protein and minerals²	400 million
The estimated income provided by the Amazon for the 10 million poor forest people dependent from the goods they catch and harvest³	$500 million to $1 billion
Globally, the increased use of natural resources between 1992 and 2005⁴	40%
Globally, the increase of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions between 1992 and 2008⁴	36%
Number of people estimated to be affected by land degradation caused by soil erosion, waterlogging or increased salinity of irrigated land₅	1 billion
Number of people estimated to be affected globally by water scarcity leading to problems with food production, human health and economic development₅	1-2 billion
Deaths each year associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene⁵	1.7 million
Number of people who die prematurely from waterborne diseases each year⁶	3.4 million
Number of children under 5 that die annually from diarrhea in India⁷	400,000
The total economics costs of environmental degradation in the Central African Republic, on both human and natural capital⁸	$130 million (approximately 8% of GDP)
The overall economic loss in Africa alone due to lack of access to safe water and basic sanitation per year⁹	$28.6 billion
Number of natural disaster events in 2011¹⁰	800
Cost of weather related disasters in 2011¹⁰ (Munich Re, 2012)	$380 billion
Percentage of deaths from natural disasters occurring in developing countries¹¹	90%
Number of people who die annually from exposure to cooking stove smoke inside their homes¹² Most victims are children and women from poor rural families who lack access to safe water, sanitation and modern household fuels	1.6 million
Number of people who die annually from urban air pollution¹³	1 million
Annual percentage of all deaths in developing countries attributable to environment-caused respiratory infections, diarrhea and malaria¹⁴	20%
Estimated annual value of ecosystem services required to support human livelihoods¹⁵ In 2011, the GDP of the global economy was approximately 65 trillion	72 trillion

*Data and information sources:

Why we give aid

Addressing environmental pressures is fundamental to reducing poverty. In many developing countries, the natural environment is the foundation of people's wellbeing and livelihoods, particularly the poor in rural areas. Degradation of natural resources can adversely affect people's health, their ability to access essential food and water supplies and their opportunities for sustainable economic development.

Find out more about why we support the environment

How we give aid

Australia is addressing environmental challenges affecting the poor through a range of bilateral, regional and global initiatives. The focus of our assistance is largely on the Asia and the Pacific region in line with the development priorities identified by partner countries. Australia also supports a number of multilateral environmental organisations to address global environmental challenges.

Find out how we support the environment

Progress Against MDGs

Ensure environmental sustainability

Australia's aid program environment activities directly support MDG7—Ensuring environmental sustainability. More information on progress against the MDGs [external website]

Volunteers

Volunteer snapshot: Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU), Thailand.

Australia Awards

More information on Australia Awards - environment

Collaboration opportunities

Find out how to get involved in Australia's environment program

Last reviewed: 19 October, 2012