2020-08-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   11 AUGUST 2020
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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                        11 AUGUST 2020

       TO                                                                                                      Attachment 2

       Community & Stakeholder Engagement Plan                                                              <>
       Climate Change Response Plan project                                                            7

     Project Name              Climate Change Response Plan (CCRP)
     Date                      January 2020 (updated July 2020)
     Department                Environment & Sustainable      Branch            Strategic Land Use Planning
                               Development                   |                 Environmental Services
     Project Team              Rebecca Britton, Principal Strategic Planner
                               Anne Nolan — Emissions Reduction Project Officer
                               Grant Hinner — Program Coordinator Climate Change Adaptation

     Target start date    |1 January 2020                          Target finish date |March 2021                          |
     Project Description
     To help the Noosa Shire mitigate the effects and adapt to the impacts of the climate emergency, Noosa Council is preparing
     a Climate Change Response Plan (CCRP). The CCRP will provide an action-oriented program that sets clear priorities for
     council and the community to act on climate change, prepare for climate change risks and build long-term resilience.
     Project background                                                                                                    |
     Council has made substantial progress on taking action on climate change and in preparing for climate related impacts. The
     following has been achieved to date:
         -   2016-2020 developed and implemented a Zero Emissions Organisational Strategy - including installing solar
             PVC on 7 council buildings, offering community group grants for solar, establishing a free solar advice hotline and
             education program, and partnering with ZEN Inc on a range of initiatives including solar for business.
         -   2017 adopted a Noosa Shire Climate Change Response Policy - setting out council's commitment to proactively
             respond to climate change and build knowledge and capacity to respond as an organisation
         -   2018 completed a climate change governance audit - assessment of how climate change and associated risks
             are being considered across various Council departments and governance processes. Completed as part of Council
             participation in QLD Climate Resilient Councils initiative.
         -   2019 adopted an overarching Environment Strategy with outcomes and targets for emissions reduction and
             climate adaptation
         -   2019 declared a Climate Emergency — making a strong statement in support of taking action on climate change as
             part of a collective voice across local governments world-wide
         -   2017-2020 progressed development of a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Plan including new modelling, risk
             assessments and options analysis for responding to coastal erosion, storm tide, tidal inundation and sea level rise.
     The climate crisis we face is broad ranging, impacting multiple sectors. Noosa Council has a critical role to play at the local
     level in facilitating change, investing, influencing, and partnering with others to ensure Noosa does it bit to reduce emissions.
     Equally, council has a role and responsibility to proactively plan and prepare for the inevitable impacts over time as the climate
     changes. It is imperative that council, in close partnership with the community, takes immediate and proactive steps to:
         -   reduce emissions and improve resource efficiencies
         -   identify and implement appropriate actions for addressing the likely consequences of change across various sectors
         -   increase community resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change risks.
     Understand context & scope project                                                                                    |
     Context for engagement
     Political
        e   The CCRP will be of considerable interest to some key interests and it is important to keep these stakeholders and
            the broader community engaged throughout the project.
        e   Noosa Council is often seen to be at the forefront of taking action on climate change, providing a positive example
            for others to follow. This project provides opportunities to build on this positive momentum, leveraging a range of
            economic, community and environment benefits.
        e¢  Council's attention will remain on building understanding and capacity of the community and key sectors in
            addressing climate risks and emission reduction, rather than concentrating on the few that wish to debate the
            science. Consistent with council's Climate Change Response Policy, council will continue to focus on the latest
            CSIRO and IPCC reports as the key ‘sources of truth’.
        e   Itis expected that the majority of the community accepts the science underpinning climate change projections, is
            committed to improving knowledge and understanding overtime, and thus would support Council's objectives with
            regard to the development of the Plan.

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