2017-09-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                             18 SEPTEMBER 2017


1     BACKGROUND
In May 2016 Council adopted a Emission Reduction Policy and as a first step commissioned
BZE, a not for profit think tank, to calculate the organisation’s baseline carbon footprint.

The initial estimate for the 2015/16 financial year indicated that Council’s total emissions for
2015/16 were 10713 CO2.e. The report from BZE noted there were some gaps in data and
recommended that the baseline be treated as an evolving document to be refined over time to
take account of additional or improved data. This was mainly due to the waste tender being out
to contract and some data was considered “commercial in confidence”. In addition, there was a
lack of available historical landfill data to enable comprehensive calculations of landfill emissions
in accordance with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) solid
waste calculator. Scope 3 emissions were also not fully canvassed as part of that audit.

In October 2016, Council adopted the Zero Emissions Noosa Organisational Strategy 2016-2026.
This Strategy sets the target of net zero emissions for the organisation by 2026. The Strategy
outlines 8 Key Actions to achieve net zero emissions by 2026. The Strategy notes that a detailed
action plan is required to implement the Strategy.

Since the adoption of the strategy efforts have been directed towards:
   development of a cost-benefit assessment tool (MACC) for energy reduction proposals;
   identifying required actions to inform future capital works programs for key buildings and
     facilities;
   embedding energy saving criteria into capital works project assessments;
   regular meetings of an internal operational working group to help bring forward ideas and
     educate employees on the zero emissions target; and
   recruitment of a project officer resource.

2     REPORT
2.1   National Carbon Offset Standard
The National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) is Australia’s only government supported voluntary
carbon neutral scheme. To comply with the requirements of NCOS, the following is required:
   Annual calculation of emissions (carbon footprint) in accordance with Greenhouse Gas
     Protocol, AS ISO 14064 and ISO 14040;
   Reduce emissions through avoidance of emissions, implementing energy efficiencies and
     fuel switching;
   Offsetting residual emissions; and
   Provide annual reporting and biannual 3rd party verification.

Council will need to demonstrate compliance with an accepted standard to validate its net zero
claims in the future. The NCOS provides robust methodology to guide Council to achieving its
goal of net zero emissions by 2026. There are considerable costs with formal certification to
NCOS including biannual third party audits (approximately $12,000) and licence fees ($18,000).
At this stage it is not intended that Council become formally certified, rather that the NCOS
methodology be applied to develop an appropriate offset strategy in the future.

The decision to actually certify to the NCOS can be made at a later date based on the
cost/benefits of certification.  However, it is recommended that Council follow NCOS
methodology in its quest to become net zero emissions by 2026.

The BZE carbon footprint was reviewed in accordance with the NCOS and the 2015/16 footprint
was recalculated.


                                                                                     Page 15 of 36