2021-03-09 P&E Agenda - Item 8 - Attachment 1 - Climate Change Response Plan

Theme 5: Healthy and resilient natural systems and carbon
     sequestration

Why this is important
Climate change will impact biodiversity, water resources and natural systems in many ways.
Restoring ecosystems also present huge opportunities to remove greenhouse gases from the
atmosphere, create jobs, support tourism, increase resilience of our native ecosystems, improve
health and wellbeing through recreation and connection with nature, and improve heat-related
impacts in our urban areas.

Changing temperature and rainfall trends and increasing risks of extreme weather events are
creating significant impacts for Noosa’s biodiversity and natural systems that will exacerbate existing
threats. These changes are already being observed in the natural environment. Bushfires made
worse by dry conditions across parts of Noosa Shire in the 2019/20 summer had devastating
consequences for local ecosystems and highlighted the vulnerability of these natural assets.

Vegetation, soil and oceans are vital ‘sinks’ for absorbing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
and storing them long term. Establishing restoration plantings to offset corporate carbon emissions
or to compensate for vegetated cleared elsewhere has broad ranging benefits for the environment
and for businesses and community groups that may partner in the restoration efforts.

How we’ll achieve this
The Noosa Environment Strategy addresses many of the threats and impacts to biodiversity and
natural systems arising from the Climate Emergency. A range of initiatives are underway to increase
habitat, landscape connectivity, riparian buffers and ecosystem health.

Council will continue to build on this and improve vegetation and bushfire management practices to
address climate risks, as well as take-up opportunities for maximising carbon drawdown through
tree planting. This includes increasing revegetation and ecosystems restoration including around
waterways and along connecting habitat areas. Enhancing canopy tree cover in urban areas will be
important for reducing urban heat stress, increasing carbon drawdown, and reducing energy needed
to keep internal and external building spaces cool. A further initiative includes converting gardens to
more drought tolerant native gardens to reduce plant loss, and irrigation needs, increase habitat and
food for local wildlife.

Strategic Priorities
The following strategic priorities are identified for this theme:

5.1 Increase revegetation, ecosystems restoration and urban greening

5.2 Optimise use and management of water resources through integrated water cycle management
    including for drinking water, wastewater, surface water and groundwater

Specific actions for implementation through this Climate Change Response Plan are identified in the
Summary of Actions.




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Noosa Climate Change Response Plan - draft for council endorsement March 2021