EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

 

Government Policies | Legislation | Trends & Scenarios | Specific Impacts
Financial Implications | Planning Case Studies 

Welcome to the WALGA Climate Change Adaptation website. As busy executives involved in the management of your Local Government's climate change adaptation response, you will need to access the important information set out below:

Key government policies and programs which will frame and guide your responses

National Climate Change Adaptation Framework
www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2007-04-13/docs/national_climate_change_adaption_framework.pdf
The Council of Australian Governments endorsed the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework in April 2007. The framework sets out an agenda of collaboration across all levels of Australian governance to address key climate change adaptation issues including strategies and actions for reducing the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability of sectors and regions.

National Climate Change Adaptation Program
www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts/nccap/index.html
The National Climate Change Adaptation Program (NCCAP) aims to prepare Australian governments and vulnerable industries and communities for the impacts of climate change. This webpage outlines in broad terms the climate change research to be undertaken and the tools and guides to be developed.

Western Australian Greenhouse Strategy
www.dec.wa.gov.au/our-environment/climate-change/reports-and-publications.html
The Western Australian Greenhouse Strategy is the former Labor Government's comprehensive response to climate change. Released in 2004, the strategy provides a framework to address climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Part B of Chapter 5 gives an overview of the Government's strategic directions for adapting to climate change. Part B of Chapter 6 addresses the State's support for Local Government and community initiatives for climate change abatement and adaptation.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
www.unfccc.int/2860.php
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into force on 21 March, 1994, and has been ratified by most nations. The convention provides an overall framework for intergovernmental action to address climate change. Adaptation to climate change is addressed in Article 2 and Article 4 of the convention.

Cities for Climate Protection Adaptive and Resilient Communities Program
www.iclei.org/index.php?id=6549
ICLEI Oceania's Adaptive and Resilient Communities Program (ARC) for councils and communities aims to build capacity for climate change adaptation planning. ARC employs a risk and opportunities management framework designed for climate change adaptation. Program implementation is supported by tools and templates found in the Local Government Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit

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Legislation which sets out your legal obligations

Kyoto Protocol
www.unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The protocol came into force from February 16, 2005. Australia ratified the protocol in 2007. The protocol sets binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is also designed to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Commonwealth Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Draft Legislation
www.climatechange.gov.au/emissionstrading/legislation/index.html
Draft legislation for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was released on 10 March 2009.

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
www.comlaw.gov.au/
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Cth) (NGER Act) requires corporations and facilities that emit greenhouse gases above a certain threshold to report their emissions, energy usage and consumption, including some Local Governments.

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Major trends and scenarios for climate change which will likely impact on your Local Government area

Climate Change in Australia
www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/index.php
The results of current research and modelling at the national and state level are summarised in a report entitled Climate Change in Australia published in 2007, with detailed information available interactively on the above website. This site, which is maintained by CSIRO, includes the results of climate change modelling of a range of climate change variables for each of three time horizons (2030, 2050, 2070) for each season (summer, autumn, winter, spring) as well as annual averages, for each of three greenhouse emission scenarios (low, medium, high).

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Specific impacts climate change will have on your Local Government area

Climate Change in Australia Technical Report
www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/technical_report.php
This report provides information about the likely magnitude of climate change in Australia and the impacts that will occur.

Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government
www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts/publications/local-government.html
This 2007 SMEC report is one of several tools the Australian Government is developing to assist Local Governments in identifying and implementing climate change adaptation actions. The report provides an excellent overview of climate change impacts as they affect the functions of Australia's Local Governments. Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government was commissioned by the former Australian Greenhouse Office as part of the Australian Government's National Climate Change Adaptation Programme.

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Financial implications of adapting to climate change impacts

Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management - A Guide for Business and Government
www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts/publications/risk-management.html
This guide sets out a framework for assessing and prioritising the risks related to climate change impacts and developing a process for effective management. The Australian Government suggests Local Governments align their climate change risk assessments with this framework, particularly if applying for LAPP funding. This initial assessment of risk can be undertaken by people with a sound professional knowledge of the relevant organisation, together with a general understanding of the likely impacts of climate change. CSIRO's Climate Change Scenarios for Risk Assessment accompany this Guide.

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Planning case studies for climate change adaptation

Cottesloe Council Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project
www.cottesloe.wa.gov.au/?p=942
The Town of Cottesloe commissioned a climate change vulnerability assessment in 2007 in order to prepare for the challenges climate change presents to managing and maintaining coastal resources and infrastructure. The Cottesloe Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project established the potential risks to existing key coastal infrastructure under a range of future climate scenarios and the options available to treat the risks. The project combines international best practice with the Australian Government's approach to climate change risk management as set out in the report, Climate Change and Risk Management: A Guide for Business and Government. In formulating an approach, a key consideration was the development of a set of methods and tools that could be readily used by coastal Local Governments throughout Australia. The project was funded by Emergency Management Australia.
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