THE Surf Coast Shire council has supported its 2019 climate emergency declaration and commitment to climate change by endorsing a 10-year Climate Emergency Corporate Response Plan.<\/p>\n
The response plan includes an immediate two-year action plan for the 2021-23 financial years with six key goals including that the council is a carbon neutral operation; generates, stores and uses renewable electricity; and facilitates and empowers community-led responses to climate emergency.<\/p>\n
The council has committed to aligning with local registered Aboriginal parties’ Country Plans, adapting well to a changing climate and as an organisation, is a climate emergency leader.<\/p>\n
“This is about local government making a difference at a grass roots level and that’s what the Climate Emergency Corporate Response Plan allows us to do,” Cr Kate Gazzard said.<\/p>\n
“It focuses on six key goals that have achievable and tangible objectives, measures and targets.<\/p>\n
“The plan embodies council’s vision for our community and environment to be thriving in a safe climate.<\/p>\n
“It’s about empowering our people to implement climate solutions at work, supporting our community to take action, advocating our position, and joining in with others responding to the climate emergency.<\/p>\n
“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions represents our top priority, and accordingly Council commits to purchasing 100 per cent renewable electricity and becoming a carbon neutral organisation in 2021-22.<\/p>\n
“One of our goals is for council to serve as a model for other organisations and we look forward to collaborating with our community on how we can collectively work towards a low emissions future for the Surf Coast Shire.”<\/p>\n
The plan includes council targets for its own corporate energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste, land use and biodiversity targets.<\/p>\n
New initiatives will build on council’s work in energy efficiency and renewable energy, transport, waste, land management, open space operations and emergency management.<\/p>\n
The Climate Emergency Corporate Response Plan 2021-2031 was endorsed seven votes to one, with Cr Paul Barker opposing the motion.<\/p>\n
Cr Heather Wellington was unwell and had left the meeting at the start of the item before the vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Surf Coast Shire council has supported its 2019 climate emergency declaration and commitment to climate change by endorsing a 10-year Climate Emergency Corporate Response Plan. The response plan includes an immediate two-year action plan for the 2021-23 financial years with six key goals including that the council is a carbon neutral operation; generates, stores […]<\/p>\n