SECCCA Spring Update 2020
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER.....
As a dreadful reminder of the trauma faced by so many of the community during Australia's unprecedented bush fire season, apocalyptic wildfires have again taken hold in the United States. With back-to-back heat waves, California had its hottest August and world record-setting heat in Death Valley. The California Governor has been reported as saying "The data is self-evident, the experience that we have in the state of California just underscoring the reality of the ravages of climate change."
What is positive to note, that in the midst of a different kind of emergency, the COVID 19 pandemic, the focus on climate change action has persisted. The once in a generation opportunity to 'build back better' by integrating zero emissions and climate resilience into COVID 19 economic recovery stimulus is being strongly advocated. Victorian Greenhouse Alliances have made an important contribution to these deliberations. And much of the Federal Government's recent announcement regarding clean energy funding and reforms is welcome, including the focus on investment in technologies like soil carbon sequestration, production of low carbon steel and aluminium, as well as reducing emissions from industry.
Our member councils (and many other local governments) are working on the development of climate emergency plans, with several recently approved by council. These climate emergency plans explain the threat that climate change poses to our way of life and and the environment, and prioritise substantial and rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Emergency Australia (CEA), an Australia wide movement of local governments declaring a climate emergency, has also been established. SECCCA will be keeping across CEA initiatives to ensure alignment and best investment of effort. And the SECCCA Asset Vulnerability Assessment Project will soon commence, helping member councils to plan for the impacts of a climate change on key council buildings and infrastructure.
SECCCA's inaugural Councillor Advisory Group (CAG) has completed its first 12 months of operation. The CAG has provided SECCCA with the authority, confidence and backing to articulate specified positions on climate change issues to political representatives and enabled a platform to share SECCCA activities with Councillors. On behalf of SECCCA management committee, we thank the Chair of the CAG, Cr Michael Whelan of Bass Coast Council and the entire CAG membership for their contribution and support. We look forward to the newly elected council continuing the CAG's great work.
Dominique La Fontaine
SECCCA Executive Officer
Australia's Technology Investment and Emissions Reduction
Victorian Greenhouse Alliances developed a submission to the Australian Government Technology Investment Roadmap Discussion Paper.
Arguing that the Roadmap does not advance Australia towards addressing climate change with the urgency and magnitude that is required, the submission explained why the Roadmap should identify how it is linked to emissions reduction targets and the critical importance of a rapid transition of the Australian economy to negative emissions (going beyond net zero emissions). Technologies that do not provide a rapid pathway to zero emissions should be excluded.
It is broadly recognised that Australia can achieve a zero emissions economy by electrifying all sectors. The Roadmap should set an overarching goal for electrification and efficiency and should rapidly advance wind and solar to help address the closure of coal plants. Growth of large scale wind and solar requires ongoing government action to unlock its potential. And, as Australia has a unique opportunity to become a significant global exporter of renewable energy, a stretch goal of 700% renewable energy should be built into the Roadmap.
Realising Australia’s zero emissions future will require new jobs and new skills, a report released by the Clean Energy Council demonstrates that tripling large scale wind and solar the opportunity could deliver over 50,000 jobs, injecting $50 billion into the Australian economy and significantly benefiting regional Australia. The submission also discusses how important it is that the training sector is ready to support these future jobs.
Think Stimulus Think Climate
Continuing to advocate for the alignment of COVID-19 economic recovery with climate change action, SECCCA has also worked with Victorian Greenhouse Alliances to produce a plan for implementing local climate solutions that can significantly boost pandemic recovery efforts. The report 'A Climate Positive Stimulus for Victorian Local Governments - Tackling both COVID-19 recovery and climate change challenge' says that local governments can drive economic recovery through tested climate change solutions and outlines how to align stimulus projects with climate solutions.
Five priority statewide projects that local governments could deliver and facilitate to boost the economy, create jobs and tackle climate change are outlined. The priority projects are
Switching all major road lights to energy efficient smart technology.
The development of a comprehensive Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network across Victoria
Accelerating investment in street trees, parks and gardens, water sensitive urban design, stormwater capture and reuse
Diverting food organics from landfill
Transforming closed landfills for clean energy generation for local communities.
Emissions reductions and economic benefits for each initiative are calculated. The full report can be found here.
Regional Community Climate Action Project - Update
SECCCA is continuing to progress the development of a realistic plan for achieving a 976 kt CO2-e reduction in emissions across the region. This represents a challenging 5.8% reduction per year until 2037 in order to meet the Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Business stakeholders including Scentre Group (managing Westfield Shopping Centres), Ikea, Bluescope Steel and SEMMA took part in a forum to discuss how emissions reduction targets and plans they have in place that might assist in achieving this regional goal. Some of the plans and projects stakeholders shared were progressive and inspiring.
The community emissions profile shows that the largest source of emissions is stationary energy use (67%). This includes residential, industrial and commercial use of electricity and gas, with industrial electricity the largest emitter (27%). On-road transportation is the second largest emissions source contributing 25% of the region’s total emissions.
The project now moves into a phase of intervention analysis, modelling potential actions SECCCA could take to reduce emissions, calculating the effort required for the emissions reduction. This will help inform member Councils and SECCCA as to the most effective intervention projects, and assist in developing a strategic approach to implementation.
The Role of Gas in a Climate Emergency
Natural or ‘fossil gas’ has long been touted as a ‘transition fuel’ that is needed to support the reliable supply of electricity and the increasing amount of renewables. But natural gas is also strongly criticised for an emission profile that is considerably higher than once thought. Investment in fossil gas infrastructure will lock in emissions growth for several decades, an outcome that is at odds with the need to rapidly and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert dangerous climate change. There are also significant and emerging opportunities for 'renewable' gas (hydrogen and biogas).
SECCCA hosted a forum to discuss the role of gas in a climate emergency. The forum was facilitated by Stride Renewables and hosted energy industry experts from the Clean Energy Council, Energy Networks Association and Enhar who discussed the myriad of issues involved in this topic. The forum was attended by over 50 local government officers. SECCCA has plans for further information sessions to build knowledge about gas utilisation by councils. For copies of the presentations please contact Dominique La Fontaine.
Supporting ESD in Council Facilities
SECCCA has recently sought feedback on how BriefEzy (formerly called the ESD Matrix) is working for council members and how the tool could be improved. BriefEzy is a sustainable building design tool developed by SECCCA. It's positive to note that there is strong uptake of BriefEzy, with some councils using the tool in new builds, major and minor refurbishments, renovations and extensions of toilet blocks, pavilions, homes, youth centres, community centres, children’s centres etc. Other councils are using BriefEzy tool mostly for sporting pavilions and community centres. The BriefEzy update can be found here.
As SECCCA continues to support the uptake of ESD practices across the region, an ESD technical working group meeting will be held in the coming months to plan the next steps for action on ESD.
Local Government and Emission Reduction pledges
The Minister for Energy and Environment has invited local governments to consider making a pledge to reduce emissions to help transition to a net zero emissions community and economy.
Voluntary council pledges under the Climate Change Act 2017 seek to acknowledge the substantial efforts of local governments on climate change. The Victorian Government is encouraging councils to submit council actions that, over next 5 years from 1 January 2021, are reasonably expected to reduce emissions that are caused or otherwise influenced by that council, along with collective pledges that reflect actions being taken by multiple councils, such as those working together on cooperative projects and through partnership organisations.
For more information see https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/local-government/council-pledges
Municipal Public Health and Well being plans and Climate Change
The Department of Health and Human Services has published Tackling climate change and its impacts on health through municipal public health and well being planning: guidance for local government, 2020.
This guidance aims to help councils meet their legislative obligations to include climate change impacts in Health and Wellbeing Plans. It highlights opportunities for councils to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of their communities through climate change action and builds on the significant work that councils are already delivering across Victoria. The guidance is available here.