A new best practice guide to emissions management is now available to South Australian councils through a state-first pilot program.
The Local Government Net Zero Accelerate Program, coordinated by the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGASA) and funded by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), has provided councils with a clearer picture about their emissions profiles and how they can help the state reach net zero by 2050.
LGASA President, Mayor Dean Johnson, said that the program has been an important undertaking, especially for participating councils lacking the resources to evaluate their own emissions and find ways to improve.
“While some larger metropolitan councils may have specialist staff to dedicate to emissions reduction, we know that’s often not the case for many regional councils,” Mayor Johnson said.
“We identified councils that could greatly benefit from inclusion in this program, and through the process we’ve been able to produce two valuable resources that can be used by other councils right around the state.
“I thank all participating councils and those who expressed interest in the program for fast-tracking our sector in this space and ensuring local government plays its part in helping South Australia achieve net zero emissions.”
Alongside a best practice guide, research and information collected through the project has been used to generate a sector-wide summary for local government emissions in South Australia.
By using these resources, councils can avoid duplication of effort, better understand their own emissions profile, identify opportunities to reduce emissions and build their own emissions reduction plan, deliver consistent messaging and contribute to local government benchmarking.
DEW Director, Climate Change, Flood Risk and Coasts, Mary-Anne Healy, said that the Net Zero Accelerate Program is a great example of what can be achieved when state and local government collaborate to deliver local climate change solutions.
“The best practice guide and other resources will help councils plan to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions which in turn can help drive action at a local community and business level,” Ms Healy said.
The new resources are now available on LGASA’s website.
