The Australian Greenhouse Office within the Government of Australia was the world's first government agency dedicated to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In 1998, following pressure from the Australian Democrats, it was established as a stand alone agency within the environment portfolio to provide a whole of government approach to greenhouse matters. It became a sub-part of the Department of the Environment and Heritage in 2004. It managed Australia's response to climate change, and provided government-sanctioned information to the public. Indeed , its functions were split between the new Department of Climate Change and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts following the November 2007 federal election.