Burdekin Shire Council has joined a rapidly growing list of local governments across Australia in the adoption of the Cities for Climate Protection™(CCP) Program.
At the end of 2002 some 164 Australian local governments representing approximately 64% of the population had committed to the program. In doing so, these local governments have undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable, long-term practices.
By committing to the CCP™ program, Burdekin Shire council is showing a long term commitment to the future well-being of the Shire and its constituents. With community understanding and support for the program and Council's investment in sustainable practices for greenhouse gas abatement, benefits will eventually flow on to industry, the wider community and future Shire generations.
CCP™ emerged from the First Municipal Leader's Summit on Climate Change held in New York in 1992. The campaign aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a local level by encouraging and supporting local governments through the development of action plans and solutions to environmental issues.
Overseeing the program is the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). This is an international association of local governments founded in 1990 whose mission is to forge improvements in environmental conditions and sustainable development globally. Councils who become member of ICLEI are provided with support, research and tools that assist them in addressing sustainability issues specific to their own needs.
In Australia the program is funded principally by the Commonwealth Government through the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). The AGO provides funding and assistance to local governments through the program which consists of 5 Milestones.
The concept of the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming is one that is controversial and has evoked many a debate. However it is generally accepted by the scientific community that human activities are impacting on the world's climatic conditions.
While the majority of us are not scientists, it is not difficult to understand that continually releasing a cocktail of substances to the atmosphere in response to our lifestyle demands, places a burden on the environment we live in.
Since our health and the environment are intrinsically interconnected it follows that a deterioration of the air quality will automatically present challenges to our health and the way we live and work.
Other Useful Links:
- Milestone 1: Prepare an Emission Inventory and Estimate Emission Growth
- At this stage a baseline year is set and data relating to emissions for that year is gathered for Council as a corporate entity and community as a whole.
- Council operations that may be audited for energy consumption, cost & production of emissions include:
- Street and public lighting such as public toilets, parks and water fountains.
- Landfill sites - the organic matter entering landfills decomposes to create greenhouse gases.
- Fleet vehicles and plant - the types and amounts of fuels used by all council plant from heavy machinery to mowers and cement mixers.
- Water and sewerage plants
- Council operated buildings and amenities such as caravan parks, swimming pools, libraries and theatres
- Similar data about the community is gathered usually through information provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- This data, along with predicted population changes and subsequent changes in energy use and waste generation, is used to forecast the likely changes in greenhouse gas emissions if there are no interventions imposed.
- The data also provides a baseline from which future changes in emission levels and/or financial gains resulting from actions that may be adopted, can be measured.
- This is the Milestone which Burdekin Shire Council has recently completed.
- Milestone 2: Establish an Emission Reduction Goal
- From the data obtained in Milestone 1, Council will then be able to commit to an emission reduction target. The CCP™ program encourages a corporate reduction goal of 20% within 10 years, a target which has proven to be achievable by councils that have recently completed Milestone 5.
- Milestone 3: Developing a Local Action Plan (LAP)
- The LAP documents the methods and projects that Council will implement to achieve its goal. The LAP can be linked to such things as the existing corporate plan or fleet management plan. Innovative and alternative ideas for the development of the LAP may be sought through community consultation and comment.
- Milestone 4: Implementing the Local Action Plan
- This Milestone is the culmination of the processes undertaken in the previous three Milestones. The main focus of action has been on council corporate actions as these can be readily identified, measured and recorded. However regional networks are encouraged so as to develop and broaden community abatement actions.
- Milestone 5: Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Local Action Plan
- Milestone 5 involves the undertaking of a "re-inventory" and continual monitoring and formal reporting. In this way, councils can stay on track, identify whether they are likely to achieve their targets and develop and implement alternative plans and methodologies if necessary.
- Into the Future.............
- Australian councils have been among the most active participants of any country in the CCP™ campaign. They have demonstrated may positive outcomes in greenhouse gas abatement with the result that CCP™ Australia is now extending the program beyond Milestone 5.
- CCP™ Plus has been developed to assist the evolvement and implementation of further sustainable greenhouse gas abatement strategies by councils. Rather that confine the program to council corporate level, CCP™ Plus will help to create opportunities for a greater exchange of ideas and knowledge between communities on regional, national and international levels.