2020-12-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   8 DECEMBER 2020


The carbon footprint also includes Council-owned streetlights and those provided by Energex but
operated by Council.
In order to calculate the carbon footprint, three types of emissions are differentiated.
Scope 1 emissions include all direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that are within the
organisation’s control boundary.
Scope 2 emissions include purchased electricity, heat, cooling and steam (i.e. energy produced
outside the organisation’s control boundary but used within the organisation).
Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions that occur as a result of the activities of the
organisation, but occur from sources outside the organisation’s control boundary.
Emissions associated with the activities within Council’s footprint include Scope 1 or “direct
emissions” including:
    the use of fuel in Council’s transport fleet and stationary equipment; and
    fugitive emissions from the Noosa Landfill.
Emissions from Council’s fuel use were calculated using activity data (litres) and applying the
relevant emission factors for the specific fuel from the current edition of the National Greenhouse
Gas Factors1. Emissions arising from the landfill were determined in accordance with National
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (Measurement) Determination 2008 as updated
annually2.
Scope 2 or “indirect emissions” included the emissions associated with the consumption of
electricity from the national electricity grid in Council’s buildings and facilities and Rate 3
streetlights. Emissions from electricity were calculated using activity data (kilowatt-hours) and
applying the relevant emission factor for Queensland electricity from the current edition of the
National Greenhouse Gas Accounts Factors August 20193.
Scope 3 emissions occur from sources owned or controlled by other entities in the Council’s value
chain (e.g., materials suppliers, third-party logistics providers, travel suppliers, lessees and lessors,
franchisees, retailers, employees, and customers). The GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain
(Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard was applied in the consideration of Scope 3
emissions sources. Council considered the 15 categories listed in Section 5.4 of the Standard and
considered the following categories should be included in the in the calculation of Council’s Scope
3 emissions where data is available:
    Purchased goods and services
    Capital goods
    Upstream transport and distribution of fuel
    Business travel
    Upstream leased assets
    Investments.
Emissions sources are relevant to the organisation’s carbon footprint when any two of the following
conditions are met:
1.    The emissions from a particular source are likely to be large relative to the attributable
      emissions.
2.    The emissions from a particular source contribute to the responsible entity’s greenhouse gas
      risk exposure.
3.    The emissions from a particular source are deemed relevant by key stakeholders.

2 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020C00600
3 https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2019


                                                                                         Page 60 of 77