SECCCA Autumn Update 2023
From the Acting CEO...
With the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Synthesis Report, it certainly feels like the world has yet again been put on notice. “All global modelled pathways that limit warming to 1.5°C (>50%) with no or limited overshoot, and those that limit warming to 2°C (>67%), involve rapid and deep and, in most cases, immediate greenhouse gas emissions reductions in all sectors this decade”, states the IPCC, in the ‘summary for policymakers’. Meaning, we need to be making deeper cuts now.
SECCCA’s commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2040 or earlier supports increasing efforts. However, targets are ultimately only goal posts to measure progress. They need to be supported by real on ground action and real emissions reduction. SECCCA concludes its Strategic Plan this year and is entering a planning phase to map out the next Strategic Plan. No doubt it will include further conversations of increasing our ambition collectively, given the challenge before us.
As we take some time to look back, evaluate our progress and start planning forward, it’s an opportune time to thank our nine member councils, councillors, officers, staff and indeed community participants who have all contributed to more successful years ahead working together to address climate change.
Thank-you!
Daniel Pleiter
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Photo: Dale Rogers – Photo Rangers and Bass Coast Shire Council
Small Business Adaptation Toolkit
Small to medium businesses, like all segments of the community, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in many ways. These could be direct, such as from fire or flood or indirect through the impact on supply chains.
Businesses have varying levels of preparedness in relation to climate change, with little prioritising climate change impacts. Many require support and capacity building around the transition to clean energy and energy efficiency. A simple process can help them understand and plan for such events.
This project aimed to develop and pilot resources for the business sector to help small- to medium-sized businesses in the SECCCA region assess climate risk, and do business adaptation and planning. A climate adaptation toolkit was piloted and tested through online workshops with four small businesses from a range of industries located across the SECCCA region.
Six findings emerged from businesses’ feedback and input to the pilot project.
There is an unmet need for guidance for businesses adapting to climate change.
The small business climate adaptation toolkit pilot worked.
The final toolkit was tested and improved.
There were some clear lessons from the businesses about climate adaptation:
businesses tend to focus on climate mitigation rather than climate adaptation
businesses with more mature governance processes require different tools
small to medium-sized enterprises are looking for this kind of support
businesses need a reason to start an adaptation plan
businesses involved want to understand the near future (i.e. one to two years, rather than what could happen in 2040).
Businesses suggested practical solutions to promote better adaptation and preparedness.
Businesses see an important role for councils in improving business resilience.
The following resources are now available on SECCCA’s website:
The toolkit: Small business climate adaptation toolkit
Case studies
o Food manufacturing
o Professional services
o Real estate
o Industrial manufacturing
Desktop literature review: Business sector climate risk assessment support
Final Project Report
This project was funded by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) as part of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Greater Melbourne.
BriefEzy version update
Since SECCCA developed the ESD Matrix in 2018 much has happened, including a name change and branding from the ‘ESD Matrix’ to ‘BriefEzy’. BriefEzy produces ESD requirements that can be included in architectural tender / quotation documentation to outline the sustainability requirements of each council project.
BriefEzy is versatile and adaptable. The tool is regularly monitored and updated to ensure it’s relevance and usability. A technical update was undertaken in the later half of 2022 which explored how BriefEzy is currently being used by member councils, and future improvements and opportunities. WSP consultants undertook the update. A new version of BriefEzy has just been reissued to all SECCCA member councils.
The BriefEzy tool is available for all councils state-wide. For councils wishing to learn more about BriefEzy, please contact Daniel Pleiter, dpleiter@seccca.org.au.
Enhancing Community Resilience Project
The Enhancing Community Resilience Project will help prepare communities and councils in the SECCCA region for current and future changes to the climate, by improving community preparedness through practical actions, tools, and resources. Project participants will be empowered with information and access to new or improved services enabling them to make individual decisions to prepare for climate change.
In March this year, consultants Spatial Vision completed the project’s impact & vulnerability assessments for nine identified communities (also referred to as sub-populations) and four geographic locations. Spatial Vision and SECCCA are now preparing for the focused mentoring sessions to be held with all councils in April. The mentoring sessions are designed to assist councils in identifying priorities for action across the SECCCA region, for the identified sub-populations.
The completion of the data analysis and mentoring of councils takes the project to the completion of Phase 2 and moving into Phase 3. Phase 3 is an opportunity to consider the available information and plan next steps for identifying up to four co-design case studies to work with affected sub-populations in planning innovative and relevant solutions to the assessed climate risks (bushfire, heat, and flooding and inundation, including sea level rise).
Initial preparations towards the co-design process have included identifying and clarifying key steps with councils, and the release of a survey to ascertain council readiness and feedback on project selection criteria. The Project Working Group will meet again in late April, to further progress the co-design phase, after exploring and applying the data analysis provided through the mentoring process. Co-design case studies are currently scheduled to run from June through to September 2023, with the project completion expected by the end of the year.
Thanks to Minderoo Foundation’s Fire and Flood Resilience initiative for funding this project. It forms part of the Resilient Communities Mission, which aims to lift resilience of Australia’s 50 most vulnerable and exposed communities to fire and flood to be on par with the most resilient.
Small Business Energy Saver Program wrap-up
SECCCA worked on Sustainability Victoria’s Small Business Energy Saver Program during 2022. The program was designed to assist more small businesses to reduce their energy consumption and bills by boosting uptake of existing Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) activities. The program has now been completed and has supported 5,051 small businesses to install discounted energy efficient products.
26% of the total upgrades were delivered in the SECCCA region, the second-highest amount following Yarra Energy Foundation (36%).
Click here for more program evaluation data.
Placeholder: Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference
The Annual Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference will take place 4 August 2023. The VGA Conference is the highest profile local government climate change conference in Australian, bringing together Victorian local government councillors, executive leaders and officers, working on and interested in climate change projects and advocacy.
Victorian councils started working together to for, Greenhouse Alliances over 20 years ago, and they have been leading on climate action ever since. Join us for the 2023 conference which will feature exciting topics and challenges currently facing the local government sector. More details to follow.
For more information, please contact event organiser Steve Turnock: steve@naga.org.au.