PART ONE - Fishers Ghost

Councils approach to climate change:Council has committed to establishing and implementing practical measures toreduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the impact of climate change in theCampbelltown Local Government Area (LGA). Notwithstanding the continuation ofthe Sustainability Committee, over the past year, Council has demonstrated itscommitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation through its support of, andparticipation in a number of projects. They include:Facilitation of Carbon Neutral Fisher’s Gig;Implementation of a Sustainability Action Plan;Establishment and implementation of an Environmental Education Strategy;Implementation of the Energy Savings Action Plan;Implementation of the Water Savings Action Plan;Installation of solar panels at selected Council’s Child Care Centres;Installation of water tanks at selected Council’s Child Care Centres;Installation of energy efficient lighting at Council’s Civic Centre and H.J DaleyLibrary; andInstallation of solar pool heating at Council’s Campbelltown Swimming Centre.Conclusions:The vast majority of councils in NSW acknowledge that climate change will affecttheir operations. As a result, councils are taking steps to reduce their emissions andprepare for the impacts of climate change through analysing their operations,obtaining information and seeking funding.Almost two thirds of councils have a documented strategy or plan to reducegreenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the majority of respondents have startedand/or completed a climate change risk assessment and are in the initial phase ofstrategically adapting to climate change. Many respondents noted that further work isrequired by their council in order to adequately prepare for climate change. Thisincludes engaging with communities and stakeholders, developing an adaptationaction plan and continuing to review and update their climate change riskassessment.Many councils are facing difficulties in driving action on climate change due tocompeting priorities, limited availability of internal and external funding and limitedstaff capacity. Most councils called for the need of funding for climate change,particularly to fund additional staff to lead climate change initiatives within council.To assist with strategic and effective decision making, Councils noted the need forinformation that is scientific, Local Government specific and at a local scale, includingmaps and models. Several councils called for leadership and commitment from theState and Federal Government and a legal framework to provide a mandate for LocalGovernment to act on climate change.