In the Indo-Pacific climate change is disrupting trade, causing water and energy shortages, increasing risks of pandemics, conflict and displacement, and reversing progress in the fight against poverty. The Australian Government is committed to taking real and significant climate action domestically and demonstrating leadership internationally. We are responding to global calls and evidence of accelerating climate change by increasing the quality and scale of our climate investments, better addressing climate risks across our development cooperation programs and supporting the private sector to also respond.

Australia's International Development Policy acknowledges climate change as the greatest shared threat to all countries and has climate action at its heart. It commits Australia to strengthening climate resilience across the development program by:

• ensuring that from 2024-25, at least half of all new country and regional investments valued over $3 million will have a climate change objective – with the goal of reaching 80 per cent in 2028–29 (see DFAT's Good Practice Note on Integrating Climate Change into Development Assistance for Implementing Partners).
• considering climate risk in our development partnership plans
• aligning our bilateral programs with partners' Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans.

Pacific regional – climate change and resilience page has more information.

Putting more resources behind our climate work

The Australian Government is committed to taking real and significant climate action at home and establishing Australia as a climate leader internationally.

• Australia has strengthened its climate finance commitment and expects to deliver $3 billion towards global efforts, over 2020-25. This includes $1.3 billion in climate finance for the Pacific, most of which will support adaptation (see further information on counting Australia's climate finance and delivering on our climate finance commitment).
• Australia has committed to increasing Official Development Assistance to the Indo-Pacific by $1.7 billion over five years.
• Australia will also step up its work with the private sector and explore new forms of development finance to achieve climate impact at scale in the Indo-Pacific region.

Examples of Australia's climate change initiatives

Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP)

AIFFP is partnering with governments and the private sector in the Pacific and Timor-Leste to provide grant and loan financing for high quality, transformational energy, water, transport, telecommunications and other infrastructure.

Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac)

COSPPac strengthens Pacific climate and ocean resilience by equipping National Meteorological and Hydrological Services with the data, tools, and skills they need to deliver accurate forecasts and early warnings. Backed by over 30 years of Australian investment in sea level monitoring and real-time data, COSPPac enables communities and governments to make informed decisions that protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. By integrating Traditional Knowledge with science, COSPPac ensures climate and ocean services are accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant.

Australian Climate Finance Partnership (ACFP)

ACFP is a concessional finance facility supporting climate action in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It is managed by the Asian Development Bank and funded by the Australian Government. ACFP investments fill critical financing gaps in private climate finance in developing countries by de-risking projects for private investors through concessional finance. The Asian Development Bank manages ACFP, leveraging its ability to use advanced private sector capabilities to engage in a wide range of projects.

Climate Resilient by Nature

Australia's Climate Resilient by Nature program works with local communities to conserve and rehabilitate ecosystems to address climate change in the Pacific.

Climate Resilient Communities (CRC)

CRC is a $221.9 million facility supporting implementation of the Australian Government's climate change commitments under Australia's International Development Policy, in line with partner government priorities. CRC incentivises funding towards gender-responsive, inclusive climate and disaster resilience programming, particularly in the water, food, nature-based solutions, and energy sectors. Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership

A $350 million partnership to deliver climate resilient infrastructure across the Pacific through:

• major climate-specific infrastructure projects such as large-scale hydropower and flood alleviation works
• climate improvements to the AIFFP portfolio, such as coastal protection for roads or solar energy for cable landing stations
• a suite of off-grid renewable energy projects in remote and rural communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Weather Ready Pacific

Weather Ready Pacific [PDF] is a Pacific-led initiative that aims to reduce the human and economic costs of severe weather, water and ocean events across Pacific island communities. Its objective is for all Pacific island countries to have access to localised, accurate and timely forecast and warning products to help communities plan for and respond to weather conditions, including disasters. Australia is contributing $30 million to Weather Ready Pacific, supporting activities including the training of meteorologists, funding essential forecasting equipment and the rapid roll out of satellite communication to connect remote island communities to bolster early warning system

Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership

Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership also known as KINETIK, this partnership is building a long-term platform for cooperation on energy transition. It uses innovative finance mechanisms to increase investment in climate-positive businesses and build the pipeline of climate resilient infrastructure projects.