The Northern Territory Government has declared action on climate change, but it is not quite as drastic as has been seen rolled out by leaders around the world.
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Building on the Climate Change Discussion Paper, the government wants your say on its draft Climate Change Response.
The action plan sets out the government's approach to addressing the risks of the climate crisis while still creating new economic and business opportunities.
The NT Government has acknowledged climate change as one of the most pressing global challenges, with impacts posing a risk to Territorians, the economy, and natural systems.
The NT's Minister for Climate Change Eva Lawler said "climate change threatens everything that makes the Territory lifestyle great".
"Territorians support action on climate change, want more renewables and want to see our environment protected for future generations," she said.
"Responding to climate change helps us protect the things we value the most - the things we can't put a price on - and will create economic opportunities for Territorians and Territory businesses through the creation of new industries and local jobs."
The response so far has a three pronged approach to addressing impacts of climate change, but dismisses calls by many in Katherine to ban fracking.
An NT Government spokeswoman said it was because "the Independent Scientific Inquiry into hydraulic fracturing found that risks could be mitigated if all the recommendations of their report were implemented", and the government had accepted all recommendations.
"[The] government has accepted all of the recommendations provided in the report, including recommendation 9.8, which states that the NT and Australian Government seek to ensure there is no net increase in the lifecycle emissions emitted in Australia from any onshore shale gas produced in the NT," the spokeswoman said.
"The NT Government is continuing to work with the Australian Government on this matter."
The Climate Change Response comes as Australia transitions to a "low-carbon economy". a move dulled by Australia failing to announce new plans to address climate change at the recent United Nations climate summit in New York.
It mainly aims to grow the renewables industry and build on existing initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - in line with the the government's long-term target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (NT) CEO, Dr Jennifer Ansell said the Climate Change Response will strengthen the carbon industry in remote Indigenous communities, "where there are few other industry and employment options".
"A strong Territory leadership on climate change policy is vital to growing the Indigenous Carbon Industry," she said.
"In particular, the Territory's aspirational target of net zero emissions by 2050 will continue to drive innovation and opportunity in the developing carbon industry and increase economic activity for existing and new Territory based carbon offsets projects."
Have your say on the draft response by visiting the website here.
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