Brisbane, Australia Plan for Action on Climate Change and Energy
Type: Policy
Status: Adopted on 4/30/07
Text:
Shown are pages 1 & 2 of the 19 page document
Introduction
Scientists agree that climate change is occurring worldwide. The expected increases in climate
variability, the higher temperatures and greater extreme weather will pose significant challenges for
Brisbane. Increasing energy prices will also impact on businesses and the community. Local
governments such as Brisbane City Council are in key positions to respond to these challenges.
Brisbane City Council’s response is the Plan for Action on Climate Change and Energy. This plan is based on recommendations made by the independent Climate Change and Energy Taskforce commissioned by Council. To ensure the successful implementation of the Plan for Action, Council will partner and work with the Commonwealth and State Governments, the community, business and industry to make deep and meaningful cuts in Brisbane’s greenhouse emissions.
The Council will continue its successful approach of avoiding taking actions that produce or increase greenhouse gas emissions in the first place; then abating or reducing, our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. We will also adapt to climate change by ensuring the opportunities, such as new “green” businesses and industries are maximised and the negative impacts (from storms, flooding and heatwave) are minimised. Where we can’t avoid or abate our greenhouse emissions we will offset them by reducing emissions elsewhere through initiatives such as planting trees to absorb and store carbon dioxide.
Background
In August 2006, Brisbane City Council set up the Climate Change and Energy Taskforce. Its aim was
to advise Council on how to prepare and respond to the challenges of:
- climate change
- increasing energy consumption
- rising petrol prices
- peak oil (when the global supply of oil begins to fall)
The Taskforce was an independent body and its members included Professor Ian Lowe (chairperson), John McEvoy, Jim McKnoulty, Patrice Derrington (retired from Taskforce), and Scott Losee.
The final taskforce report, Climate Change and Energy Taskforce Final Report: A Call for Action, was presented to Council’s Establishment and Coordination Committee on 12 March 2007. This report included some 31 recommendations across eight strategy areas. It was decided that full Council would debate the final taskforce report at a special meeting on 30 April 2007 and agree on the recommendations to be adopted.