2019-07-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       9 JULY 2019


As a result of these changes to Noosa’s climate, Noosa Shire will likely see an increased demand
in energy consumption for public and private building cooling purposes, and an increase in
infrastructure asset repair costs. Financial and emotional stress stemming from damage to private
assets, plus the costs associated with disaster management and recovery to public budgets, will
increase significantly as a result of more frequent and severe natural hazards. Human health
related issues including heat stress and disease will also increase. Noosa can also expect a range
of impacts to agriculture, tourism and commerce sectors resulting from rainfall, temperature and
flooding changes.
2.   Global & Australian emission trajectory
The Global Carbon Project reported that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels and industry in
2018 had reached a record high of 37.1 billion tonnes, an increase of 2.7% from 2017.
Australia’s carbon emissions are also at an all-time high. Emissions for the 2018 year are
estimated to be 538.2 mega tonnes of CO2 equivalent; an increase of 0.7% on the previous year.
3.   The Paris Agreement
In 2015, governments across the globe signed the Paris Agreement to hold global average
temperatures well below 2oC above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit temperature
increase to 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels.
Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 26–28% on 2005 levels by 2030. However, the
2018 Emissions Gap Report by UN Environment found there has been no improvement in
Australia’s climate policy since 2017 and the emission levels for 2030 are projected to be well
above the Paris Agreement targets.
The OECD has warned the Australian Government that it will not achieve its Paris Agreement
target without intensified mitigation efforts, describing Australia’s current climate policy as a
“piecemeal approach”.
4.   Noosa’s response to date
    May 2016, Noosa Council implemented its Emission Reduction Policy.
    February 2017, Council commenced a project to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan,
     supported by a Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan, with project completion expected in 2020.
    October 2017 Council endorsed the Zero Emissions Noosa Strategy that committed Council
     to achieving the very ambitious goal of net zero emissions for its own operations by 2026.
     Council has developed a ZEN action plan in line with the strategy and included budget
     allocations to appropriate capital works to achieve this target.
    August 2017, Noosa Council joined the Cities Power Partnership as a founding member.
    December 2017, Noosa Council endorsed a Climate Change Response Policy to guide
     Council decision making and ongoing capacity building and climate response.
    June 2019, Noosa Council endorsed the Environment Strategy which sets a target for both
     Council operations and the Noosa Shire to achieve net zero emissions by 2026. The
     Environment Strategy implementation plan sets out the actions and budgetary requirements
     to achieve these targets.
    Council incorporated responses to future coastal hazard risks to people and property into the
     current and proposed New Noosa Plan through more robust development requirements.
    Council embedded climate change considerations (coastal hazard risks) into infrastructure
     planning and delivery.
    Council continues to integrate disaster management planning and long term climate planning
     as part of its risk assessments and emergency management.
    Council will review its ZEN organisation strategy later this year in the context of this report
     and other updated information.

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