Climate change is likely to become the dominant cause of species extinction over the next century. Already our plants and animals are being impacted by shifting habitat, changed seasonal patterns and drying rivers. Funds from emissions trading could help save them.

Australia is home to more than a million species - many of which are found nowhere else. Species unique to Australia include 85% of our flowering plants, 84% of our mammals, 89% of our temperate in-zone fish and 45% of our birds. This biodiversity underpins the ecological processes which make life on Earth possible, such as fresh air, clean water, nutrients and pollination of plants.

The Australian ecosystems most vulnerable are - coral reefs, highland rainforests, alpine regions, coastal wetlands, and the heathlands of southwest Western Australia.

New biodiversity programs
We must assist the natural adaptation of species and ecosystems by improved management of areas of high conservation value and continue development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative National Reserve System. Intact, well-connected ecosystems are believed to be more likely to be resilient to climate change and it will be increasingly necessary to enable the movement of species to new geographical locations, as they follow the shifting climate.

Many adaptation programs that will build resilience into native ecosystems, will also lead to fewer greenhouse gas emissions. For example, protecting areas against forest fires and reducing logging and intensive agriculture.

New funding from emissions trading
These measures will need significant and reliable funding. The proceeds of auctioned emissions permits under the emission trading system can help. Many billions will be raised and a portion could support:

• purchase of private land to ensure connectivity;
• logging and intensive agriculture removed from vulnerable high conservation value ecosystems;
• in some areas irrigation licences and fishing licences bought and retired; and
• rehabilitation of ecosystems.