Draft Climate Emergency Action Plan 2023 – 2025

Deadline extended - feedback welcome by 6 August.

solar image.JPG

Council is seeking feedback on our draft Climate Emergency Action Plan 2023 – 2025.

Following an update to Council's Climate Emergency Response Plan 2021-2031(PDF, 4MB) - which has an enhanced focus on adapting to impacts of climate change, and the addition of an emissions reduction roadmap - Council has released a two year action plan.  

This draft Climate Emergency Action Plan outlines Council's organisational response to responding to the climate emergency. The 2023-25 Action Plan sets actions under a series of goals including that Council:

  • Is carbon neutral
  • Generates, stores and uses renewable energy  
  • Works with local Registered Aboriginal Parties and First Nations people on Climate Change, and
  • Facilitates and empowers community responses to the Climate Emergency.

View the draft Action Plan(PDF, 706KB)

Have your say

Feedback is welcome by 6 August.


About the Climate Emergency Response Plan 2021-2031

Surf Coast Shire Council has updated its Climate Emergency Response Plan 2021-2031, with enhanced focus on adapting responses to impacts of climate change, and addition of an emissions reduction roadmap.

The 2021-2031 Climate Emergency Response Plan provides strategic long-term vision, goals and actions for managing Council’s response to the climate emergency, while action plans are developed every two years setting ambitious but practical shorter-term goals.

Goals within the response plan include:

  • Reducing Council’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030, excluding Anglesea Landfill
  • Offsetting residual emissions, and
  • Building resilience to reduce vulnerability to climate incidents.

Building resilience recognises the impact of climate change and the frequency of increasingly severe weather events which can have significant impact on Council infrastructure including road and stormwater networks.

Council’s corporate operational achievements since 2019 include transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity, reduction in non-landfill greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 per cent, installation of extensive solar systems and solar power storage on Council buildings, and achieving Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard certification.

The updated Climate Emergency Response Plan now includes an Emissions Reduction Target and Roadmap adopted in April 2022, and a Climate Adaptation Planning Framework.