High-Level Launch of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership, COP22

Ministers,distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I am pleased thatAustralia is part of the NDC Partnership.

Last year weachieved the historic Paris Agreement for the world to take action againstclimate change.

This year wecelebrate the early entry into force of the Agreement.

Australia completed ratification lastweek and will continue to take concrete action towards its implementation.

At the heart of theParis Agreement are our Nationally Determined Contributions.

These ensurecountries play their part in limiting temperature rise to below 2 degrees.

Our NDCs need to beas robust as possible.

They are thebusiness and investment plans which will drive our transition to alower-emissions, more climate resilient global economy.

Of course, any planis only as good as its implementation.

Australia is investing in theNDC Partnership to support developing countries in successfully implementingtheir NDCs.

Australia's decision to jointhe NDC Partnership is one part of a new initiative I am announcing today tostrengthen global action in the land sector.

Emissions from theland sector, primarily in agriculture and forestry, account for around20 per cent of global emissions and are growing rapidly.

The land sectoralso presents some of our most complex adaptation challenges.

Recognising this,around 100 NDCs have identified the land sector as a priority for action.

The initiativeAustralia is launching today will support this priority.

I am pleased toannounce that Australia will commit $16 million to support delivery of NDCs inthe agricultural and forestry sectors, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.

This package willleverage Australia's world-leading expertise in the land sector.

Australian farmersare exemplary environmentalists and have developed cutting edge agriculturalpractices and technology to deal with a changing climate.

Our foreign aidprogram also delivers mitigation and adaptation support through agriculturalprograms, helping farmers adjust to new climate realities and manage land.

The AustralianCentre for International Agricultural Research, the Government's specialistagricultural research agency, has been brokering partnerships for research andcapacity building for over 30 years.

I announce this newIndo-Pacific Land Action Package as a vehicle to share and build uponAustralia's expertise.

The initiative willsupport emission reductions, resilience and economic growth in three ways.

First, Australiawill contribute $2 million over two years to the NDC Partnership to ensure astrong focus on the land sector in NDC implementation. We will also join theNDC partnership steering committee.

Second, Australia willprovide $10 million to help Indonesia achieve its goal for a low carbon andmore efficient agricultural and forestry sector, which are its largest sourcesof emissions and economic activity.

Third, we willcommit $4 million to support innovative public-private sector partnerships inthe land sector. Mobilising private sector capital for the transition to alower emission, more climate resilient economy is a core objective.

And we will scaleup these projects over time by attracting private sector finance.

Ladies andgentlemen, I am delighted Australia will invest in the NDC Partnership andassure you that Australia will continue to make a significant contribution.