Organisational Emissions Reduction Progress Report · Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                            9 DECEMBER 2025



Risk & Opportunities
It is well recognised that climate change affects everyone and everything in society. Its causes are
multiple, complex, and systemic, requiring solutions to be widespread, sustainable and multi-
disciplinary. Climate change risk has relevance both immediately and over the long-term: it is a
measurable financial risk, an insurance risk, a legal risk, and a physical risk to assets and to life. The
recent National Climate Risk Assessment, released by the Australian Government, identified 63
nationally significant climate risks including risks to food and water security, community health and
wellbeing, First Nations cultural knowledge and practice, critical infrastructure, government finance
and capacity, economy, social cohesion, supply chains, migration and displacement, productivity
and profitability in primary industries, and the loss of biodiversity and natural values that underpin
liveability in Noosa. The level of risk to Council and the Noosa community continues to grow as
global emissions increase and impacts begin to be felt. The increasing frequency and severity of
climate hazards including flooding, sea level rise, bushfires, drought, landslides, extreme heat,
severe storms and cyclones are evident in the succession of local disasters in recent years.

There are also significant risks associated with the systemic shift required to reach a net zero and
climate resilient future. These are driven by impacts to markets, technology, policy, and reputation
during the global transition, and can include the risks associated with carbon tariffs, stranded assets,
institutional and governance disruption, economic disruption, higher energy costs and increased
costs of compliance.

There are risks should Council not continue to implement or adequately resource emissions
reduction actions. Climate change is identified as only one of two ‘extreme’ risks in Council’s Risk &
Opportunity Management Framework, emphasising the importance of making substantial progress
towards addressing climate risks across all areas of the organisation. In addition, advice from legal
experts and the insurance industry indicate that a reasonable response to the foreseeable risk of
climate change should include implementation of a credible, transparent and target-based emissions
reduction strategy with a genuine intent to achieve changes. Setting a strong target with a
commitment to invest in reducing Council’s climate pollution is a method of reducing Council’s legal
and liability risk.

As a problem of the global commons, to effectively manage for climate risks, governments at all
levels, businesses, households, and the community, also each have important, complementary, and
shared responsibilities in addressing the cause of climate change through the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions. Council has an important role in demonstrating leadership and
advocating for everyone to play their part in this collective action challenge which disproportionately
impacts youth and the most vulnerable in society.

Council’s strategy importantly includes a strong focus on the benefits that come with effectively
responding to climate change. Evidence shows that the most significant opportunities are afforded
to those who plan early and take proactive action to mitigate and adapt to expected impacts. These
opportunities include: improving air quality, water quality and biodiversity health; improving public
health and wellbeing; reducing social vulnerabilities and inequities; ensuring sustainable food
systems; reducing lifecycle costs; efficiently using natural resources; building energy independence;
improving self-sufficiency; restoring natural systems; building partnerships and cooperation;
promoting diversity and inclusivity across sectors; avoiding and reducing growing damage and
maintenance costs; facilitating innovation and creating jobs in clean and green tech industries;
preserving cultural heritage; and avoiding carbon tariffs, stranded assets and costs of compliance.

There is also strong agreement amongst experts on the significant return on investment associated
with climate resilience and disaster preparedness in the face of increasing threats. Analyses from
the Insurance Council of Australia, the Productivity Commission and Deloitte show that for every
dollar invested on resilience measures that better protect communities from extreme weather (such
as installing backup energy storage systems at key community centres), ten dollars are returned in