Climate Change

Local Government has a significant leadership role in helping local communities understand and adapt to climate change, and to take advantage of the opportunities that emissions trading may bring. As the peak body representing Councils in South Australia, the Local Government Association has a key role to provide coordinated and relevant support to its members as they strive to achieve this.

This page provides information on the following areas:

• Resource and information papers
• LGA Renewable Energy Forum 2009 
• LGA Climate Change Adaptation Project
• Sustainable Public Lighting
• LGA Climate Change Strategy 2008-2012
• Climate Change Sector Agreement with the SA Government
• LGA / CSIRO EnergyMark trial
• Beyond Carbon - Local Government Climate Change Summit
• Information Papers
• Climate Change Questionnaire Survey

Climate change is a complicated issue for Local Government with the economic, social and environmental challenges sometimes hard to capture into defined strategic actions.  To assist Councils in identifying those issues relevant to Local Government and developing strategic actions to tackle mitigation, adaptation and leadership the LGA has produced the attached Climate Change Action Plan Guide.

Developed in conjunction with Climatologist Dr Jacqui Balston and foreword contribution from Josie McLean this guide examines the drivers and processes involved in the development of a climate change action plan for Councils. If undertaken in an inclusive manner, the process of developing a climate action plan will raise awareness across Council and ensure that energy efficiency and climate adaptation become part of the culture of the organisation.

This project has been assisted by the Local Government Research & Development Scheme.

A Guide for Councils Developing a Climate Change Action Plan FINAL Nov 2011 (2747 kb)

As part of the strategy to provide SA Councils with current and locally relevant information about climate change, the LGA will progressively issue resources and information papers on key topics.

1. Update on climate change science and changes in SA May 2011 (909 kb)

2. Australia's two lead climate science agencies - the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology - have produced a snapshot of the state of the climate to update Australians about how their climate has changed over the last 50 years and what it means. Click here! to access this report titled 'State of the Climate'.

3. Update on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and Applicability to Local Government - December 2009 (267 kb)

4. To support the LGA Education and Training Program 'Emissions Measurement and Management' provided by Balance Carbon the LGA has commissioned the development of a comprehensive course workbook. This workbook will not only provide a valuable resource for those Council staff and elected members undertaking the training program but also for those unable to attend that have an interest in understanding the implications of a carbon constrained future. The LGA Emissions Measurement and Management Course Workbook can be found below.

LGASA emissions measurement and management workbook Nov 2010 (828 kb)

Balance Carbon has also developed the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Inventory Worksheet. This worksheet is designed to provide a quick guide to assist Councils in calculating the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their operations for the purpose of internal reporting or public disclosure. The worksheet complements the workbook and can be found below.

Local Government Greenhouse Gas Inventory Worksheet (91 kb)

5. The following discussion paper was commissioned by the LGA SA to assist Councils understand the provisions of the National Carbon Off-set Standards (NCOS 2009)

LGA NCOS briefing paper (132 kb)

6. The LGASA has commissioned the production of this paper to assist Local Government Officers in understanding the carbon offset market and issues associated with the selection and purchase of offsets to achieve certain goals.

LGASA CarbonOffsetsPaper Oct 2010 (274 kb)

7.  The Clean Energy Council of Australia has produced a Consumer Guide to Solar PV at the following link  http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/resourcecentre/Consumer-Info/solarPV-guide .  Councils may find this resource useful in communicating to their communities.

8.  As part of the LGA Renewable Energy Pilot Program the LGR&D Scheme funded building audits for participating pilot Councils on selected buildings, the result of which provided Councils with data and strategic advice on options for investing in solar systems on Councils' own infrastructure. An output of this project was the below discussion paper outlining the solar energy opportunities and barriers for Councils and the Local Government sector. Key discussion within this paper includes;

• are you solar ready?
• issues around bulk purchase arrangements
• a model business case
• Clean Energy Futures package
• carbon price; and,
• solar credits

**this report has been removed for editing and will be made available shortly**

The LGA Climate Change Strategy includes the completion of a sector based Climate Change Risk Management Assessment and Adaptation Program over 2 years during 2009-10.  As of May 2010 the LGA Mutual Liability Scheme has successfully delivered the program to approximately half of the 68 South Australian Councils.

The aim of this Climate Adaptation Project (CAP) is to capture relevant risk /opportunity related data based on predicted climate variables that will support Local Government in South Australia to develop individual/regional based climate adaptation modeling and adaptation plans. Further, the framework of the CAP has enabled the development of a sector profile relevant to climate change adaptation risks and opportunities that are recognised as a priority for South Australia.

A draft interim report and brochure on the CAP findings to date can be found below. For further information relating to this project please contact Adam Gray, Senior Policy Officer Sustainability at the LGA on 8224 2055 or at adam.gray@lga.sa.gov.au

LGACAP InterimReport2010 (1453 kb) 

DRAFT LGA Climate Adaptation Project Brochure 2010 (1808 kb)

The LGA hosted a Renewable Energy Forum on 26 November 2009 at the Old Town Hall, City of Unley. Please click on the links below for copies of the agenda and presentations.  

AGENDA

Local Government Renewable Energy Forum Agenda - 26 November 2009 (252 kb)

PRESENTATIONS

Renewable Energy - state of the State and Nation - Tim OLoughlin - Presentation (480 kb)
RECs Who What When Where - Dr Tim Moore - Presentation (303 kb)
Wind and Solar Renewable Energy Type Costs Efficiencies Futures - Professor Mike Young - Presentation (353 kb)
Renewable Energy solutions for Councils and Communities - Richard Turner - Presentation (850 kb)
Council Case Study - Ian Baldwin - Presentation (1184 kb)
Council Case Studies - Phil Cameron - Presentation (8800 kb)
Council Case Studies - Roy Ramage - Presentation (486 kb)

Dave Barry - Acting Director, Development services City of Towong, VIC - presentation can be found at  http://prezi.com/d-8ncw_pbrzy/view/

More detail on information presented at the forum can be found at:

file://www.solarprogram.com.au/ outlining the City of Victor Harbours C-PREP program.

A podcast of Roy Ramage's presentation can be found here - http://tr.im/roylga.

For more information please contact Adam Gray, Senior Policy Officer - Sustainability at the LGA on (08) 8224 2055 or email adam.gray@lga.sa.gov.au.

In late 2008 the Local Government Association engaged LUCID Consulting Engineers to summarise the available opportunities for increased energy efficiency within the major application of public lighting in South Australia. The report has now been finalised and it explores all best practice high efficiency lighting systems in use throughout the world and those presently in development. The report also makes comparisons with the present widely used systems within the State using various technical metrics while making basic cost-benefit comparisons for each possible technology. The result of the report is a range of suggested energy efficient alternatives to the public lighting systems presently used within South Australia. 

New Technology Sustainable Public Lighting Implementation Guide - August 2009

Sustainable Public Lighting Technical Feasibility Report- August 2009

Public Lighting Forum 

On 26 August 2009 the LGA hosted a Forum to discuss the outcomes of the Sustainable Public Lighting Technical Feasibility Report and Implementation Guide and determine a path forward. The Forum was held at Local Government House, 16 Hutt Street and involved presentations from ETSA, LUCID engineering, City of Charles Sturt, Campbelltown City Council and Local Government Corporate Services.  Please refer to attachments below for copies of the presentations.

LGA Public Lighting Forum - Feasibility of New Technologies (4858 kb)
LGA Public Lighting Forum - Local Government Corporate Services (1484 kb)
LGA Public LIghting Forum - New Technology Implementation Guide (177 kb)
LGA Public Lighting Forum - Public Lighting Audit (34 kb)
LGA Public Lighting Forum - Public Lighting in City of Charles Sturt (1493 kb)

Local Government Transition to Sustainable Public Lighting - Discussion Paper

Local Government provision of public/street lighting in SA is not only a significant expense at $12.6M per annum but a major contributor of greenhouse gases via the energy consumed.  Rising electricity costs, advances in lighting technology, State and Federal Government policies and environmental imperatives are drivers leading to the ever increasing interest of Local Government in transitioning to sustainable public lighting options.

The LGA has a leadership role in supporting our member Councils to transition to sustainable public lighting, which includes formally negotiating with ETSA tariff arrangements for Local Government lighting assets and potentially service level standards.

To support this work the LGA State Executive Committee at their 16 September 2010 meeting requested that a report be provided to the November meeting to enable consideration of;

• funding opportunities for Councils to assist with the transition to sustainable street lighting, including State and Federal Government funding options
• opportunities for various technologies and alternative energies for street lighting, and
• linkages between tariff arrangements and transition to sustainable lighting

This discussion paper is intended to identify and discuss the numerous issues associated with Local Government transitioning to sustainable public/street lighting.  This paper follows on from, and updates information provided in the LGA commissioned 'Sustainable Public Lighting Technical Feasibility Report' and 'New Technology Implementation Guide' undertaken by LUCID consulting engineers in August 2009.

Local Government transition to Sustainable Public Lighting Nov 2010 (186 kb)

The LGA Climate Change Strategy has now been finalised following Council feedback and LGA State Executive Committee endorsement. A copy of the Strategy can be accessed here.

The strategy encompasses a broader (but highly consistent) focus than that covered within the sector agreement. The strategy will focus LGA effort on climate change across the following areas:

1. ADAPTATION

Goal - Identify and adapt to the long term physical impact of climate change in this state

Focus Areas -

• Knowledge and Research
• Adaptation Action

2. MITIGATION

Goal - Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint of the local government sector and community

Focus Areas -

• Living in a Carbon Economy
• Reducing Carbon Footprint - Improving Energy Efficiency

3. LEADERSHIP

Goal - Provide leadership and build capacity of local government and the community to manage climate change risk and opportunity

Focus Areas -

• Council Support & Engagement
• Partnerships and Collaboration
• Awareness and Education

Work is already well underway in a number of the strategy areas including:

• the formation of a Climate Change Technical Panel to provide access to sound, relevant, credible scientific and specialist advice;
• preparation of a response to the Australian Government greenpaper on the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in conjunction with ALGA and Dr Tim Moore from BalanceCarbon (refer LGA Circular 40.6);
• ongoing liaison with Mutual Liability Scheme in relation to their Climate Change Risk Assessment project (refer LGA Circular 37.1);
• development of a climate change training and development program for 2009; and
• ongoing liaison with a range of government and non-government agencies on opportunities for future collaboration.

In the development of the LGA's strategic climate change approach and project, the LGA Secretariat has been acutely aware of the need to effectively collaborate with the SA Government and their climate change initiatives. This will ensure that the LGA's project, complements SA Government initiatives and attracts its support and assistance. The development of a sector agreement under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 was an agreed key objective for State and Local Government for the first half of 2008 as Councils need expert assistance to develop localised strategies and targets to:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their Council operations; and
• Provide community leadership to encourage citizens to commit to local, State and national strategies and targets for households and businesses.

The attached agreement was signed at the Local Government Climate Change Summit on 4 June, 2008, by SA Premier the Honourable Mike Rann MP, and LGA President, Mayor Joy Baluch AM. The draft annual program which forms a schedule to the agreement is the subject of a 12 week consultation period with Councils and State agencies. Please refer to Circular 23.5 for further information.

South Australian Local Government Sector Agreement - Climate Change (365 kb)

Schedule 1 of the Agreement

Following the signing of the Local Government Climate Change Sector Agreement by the Premier and LGA President on 5 June 2008, a 12 week consultation on the draft 'Annual Program for 2008-09' (Schedule 1 of the agreement) was undertaken, providing opportunity for Councils and State Government agencies to provide feedback on the anticipated program for 2008-09 across the agreements ten focus areas:

1. More efficient public lighting (including street lighting)
2. Collaboration and information exchange on green power procurement
3. Council business risk assessment and adaptation planning
4. Regional and community climate change impact assessment and adaptation
5. Offsets and sequestration
6. Energy efficiency
7. Community education and behaviour change
8. Information provision across government
9. Strategic planning
10. Emissions trading

Feedback generally indicated support for the activities within the agreement schedule, however the following recurring issues were highlighted by Councils and have also been more explicitly incorporated into the revised schedule:

• increased emphasis on measures to assist future adaptation to climate change, particularly in relation to water resource management, conservation and reuse, including stormwater harvesting;
• greater emphasis on integrating climate change and sustainability within planning and development frameworks (including transport systems), particularly in light of the Planning and Development Review 2008; and
• consideration of more equitable and ongoing cost-sharing arrangements between State and Local Government.

The finalised Sector Agreement Schedule of Priorities is available here.
Final - Schedule - Climate Change Sector Agreement 2008 (46 kb)

In late 2009 the LGA SA with support and funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Sustainability and Climate Change division engaged the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO) to undertake a South Australian trial of the Energymark program.  This trial commenced in August 2009, following on from a successful national trial and concluded in July/August 2010. The CSIRO working together with the LGA SA, aim to create momentum at the community level around the topic of climate change and energy use.

Energymark draws on previous work conducted in the water sector to develop a process that can increase knowledge and understanding about reducing greenhouse gas emissions to bring about behavioural change in individual energy consumption.   The data collected enables assessment of Energymark's impact on individual behaviour over time as well as evaluation of information exchange through social network analysis.

This final report provides the Local Government Association of SA with an analysis of the results achieved throughout the 2009-10 Energymark trial.

LGASA EnergyMark Final Report 2010 (840 kb)

Beyond Carbon - Local Government Climate Change Summit

The LGA hosted a major Local Government Climate Change Summit on 4 and 5 June 2008 at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel. The summit was part of the Beyond Carbon Conference held from 3 to 5 June 2008 that drew together national climate change expertise and experience and focussed on imparting practical knowledge and understanding of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions and opportunities for Councils. Development of the summit program was informed by the results of the SA Local Government climate change survey and other key resources. Please click here for further information. Information and resources from the summit will be available on this page in the coming weeks.

We would like to thank our sponsors:

Beyond Carbon Conference Principal Sponsor:

For further information go to : http://www.adelaide.edu.au/

Local Government Climate Change Summit Green Sponsor:
For further information go to : http://www.environarc.com.au/

In November 2007 the LGA conducted a comprehensive climate change survey of Councils - see Circular 41.11. The SA Councils survey was based on comparable surveys undertaken by other state Local Government Associations to assist in the development of a 'national Local Government picture. The survey results underpin many of the elements of the strategy. The survey confirmed the importance of climate change to Councils and their communities and the urgency of development of practical and locally relevant information and support packages for Councils. A copy of the survey results is available on request.