Surf Coast Shire Council has a new Climate Emergency Action Plan, detailing organisational goals for 2023-2025 and aiming to further inspire and support community Climate Emergency response.
Council resolved at its September meeting to adopt the 2023-2025 plan, while noting the delivery and significant achievements of its 2021-2023 Climate Emergency Action Plan.
The 2023-2025 plan includes enhanced focus on supporting community efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pursue renewable energy opportunities.
It commits to continue supporting Climate Emergency action through engagement, seed funding and capacity building, as well as promotion and delivery of community leadership programs which emphasise and encourage climate action.
“Delivery of goals in the 2021-2023 Climate Emergency Action Plan demonstrates the importance of having these shorter-term plans providing focus and targets within our overarching 2021-2031 Climate Emergency Response Plan,” Cr Kate Gazzard said.
“While there is still so much to do, many significant things have been achieved under the goals within the 2021-2023 plan and among the most important is helping to further inspire and support community climate action.
“Council is committed to demonstrating climate leadership as an organisation but it is so important that our community, and businesses and organisations within our community, are taking meaningful steps as well. We all need to be working together to make a difference.”
The 2023-2025 plan details actions to be undertaken within headline goals, that the organisation:
- Is carbon neutral,
- Generates, stores and uses renewable energy.
- Is adapting to the changing climate.
- Is working with local Registered Aboriginal Parties and First Nations on Climate Change.
- Facilitates and empowers community responses to the Climate Emergency, and
- Is a Climate Emergency leader.
Achievements from the 2021-2023 action plan noted by Council include:
- Reduction in Council non-landfill greenhouse gas emissions by 41 per cent since 2020-2021.
- Transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity, which included saving $173,000 in utility costs.
- Establishment of a Climate Emergency Grants stream to support community-led action.
- Development of a Climate Adaptation Planning Framework.
- Securing $1.5 million in external funding to progress climate action; and
- Achieving Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard certification.
