This World Environment Day, the Albanese Government is backing world-leading research to ensure better environmental protections for more than 200 threatened species, while delivering faster assessments for renewable energy projects.
The Government's Renewables Environmental Research Initiative (RERI) has invested over $45 million in more than 50 projects which are providing critical data to support Australia's renewable energy transition while protecting our unique biodiversity.
This year's focus for World Environment Day is climate change, and as the biggest threat facing nature, it's critical for our native species that we reduce emissions by building more clean, renewable energy.
At the same time, we need to ensure there are proper checks and balances on onshore and offshore solar and wind projects to minimise the impact on precious biodiversity.
This research is assisting with that task, informing environmental assessments and reducing environmental impacts through projects including:
- The largest ever study on parrots in Australia, with more than 100 birds GPS-tracked, 1500 surveys undertaken to understand important habitat, over 340 nests monitored and more than 380 chicks found.
- In collaboration with Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area traditional owners, 15 new locations have been confirmed for the Arnhem leaf-nosed bat, expanding the known species range by around 50 per cent.
- Around 160 tracking tags placed on albatross and giant petrels to better understand where they travel, how high they fly, and when they are most active.
- The discovery of a new Australian fur seal breeding colony on an island in the Bass Strait, with more than 180 pups found.
- Collection of environmental DNA for the endangered grey snake for the first time, allowing better detection of the species.
- The discovery of previously unknown gang-gang cockatoo breeding locations and nests in New South Wales and Victoria.
Since coming to government in May 2022, the Albanese Government has approved more than 140 renewable energy projects.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said the Albanese Government is supporting climate action through the RERI program, ensuring both renewable energy and biodiversity can thrive in Australia.
"Filling these knowledge gaps will support our new National Environmental Protection Agency to undertake faster and more robust project assessments, and better protect nature," Minister Watt said.
"Projects that avoid and mitigate impacts to Australia's threatened species, like the gang-gang cockatoo, will be better positioned for smoother assessment decisions.
"That's exactly what this research program promotes by grounding renewable energy development in science and strong environmental stewardship.
"This will help us deliver a net‑zero future that protects Australia's unique biodiversity for generations to come."
A full list of RERI projects is available here: The Renewables Environmental Research Initiative - DCCEEW
