2020-07-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     7 JULY 2020


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 18 July 2019, Item 3, Page 17
That Council note the report by the Director Environment and Sustainable Development, Carbon
Reduction officer and Climate Change Adaptation Program Coordinator to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 9 July 2019, and
A.     Endorse the following statement:
       “Council accepts the latest science on climate change provided in the October 2018 report
       of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and acknowledges that the Noosa Shire
       is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including heat waves, more intense storms
       and sea level rise all of which is likely to adversely affect the Noosa natural and human
       environment. Council therefore declares that we are in a ‘Climate Emergency” which requires
       urgent action by all levels of government”; and
B.     Write to the Prime Minister, the State Premier, State and Federal Opposition Leaders, and
       State and Federal Members of Parliament representing the Noosa Shire region, advising of
       Council’s declaration and requesting they also act with urgency to address climate change
       through legislated programs and policy positions, to drive action to reduce greenhouse gas
       emissions and to keep global temperatures to a maximum increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius.


Finance
There are no immediate or long-term financial implications on Council to join the Advisory Group.
Members are expected to participate in monthly online meetings during business hours.
Risks & Opportunities
Involvement in the Advisory Group as Queensland representative supports Council’s declaration
of climate emergency. There is a community expectation that Noosa Council stands by the
declaration and works with the community and levels of government to achieve tangible results.
Collaborating with other councils who have declared a climate emergency, provides a great
opportunity to help build council’s capacity through the sharing of knowledge and experience as
well as provide a collective voice to advocate and mobilise climate action.
Membership on the Strategic Advisory Group aligns with the Zero Emissions Noosa Organisation
Plan, as well as various outcomes in the Environment Strategy 2019 under the following strategies:
4.1    Reduce emissions and resource consumption
4.2    Increase community resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change
4.3    Manage the natural environment in a way that improves resilience to climate change.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Nil.
Internal Consultation
Staff from Strategic Planning and Environmental Services have been involved in the CEA network
development group providing input to the development of the Terms of References, funding
arrangements, and setting the scope for CEA.




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