Governing carbon mitigation and climate change within local councils: a case study of Adelaide, South Australia

There is growing concern about climate change impacts on local government areas. In Australia, the federal carbon tax (from 1 July 2012) will also increase costs for local councils. This paper evaluates what carbon mitigation (i.e. energy, water, and waste management) actions have been implemented by metropolitan Adelaide councils (n=14) and why (or why not). A survey of environmental officers profiled carbon mitigation actions, emissions auditing, and motives for emissions reduction by Adelaide councils. The main reasons for adopting carbon actions were a climate change plan, climate leadership, and cost savings. Internal council governance of climate change actions was also evaluated. A climate governance framework based on adaptive management, communication, and reflective practice (Nursey-Bray 2010) was applied to assess climate mitigation by Adelaide councils

Planning for climate change by Queensland coastal councils

The Queensland Coastal Plan requires councils to prepare coastal hazard adaptation plans for those parts of their urban areas at risk from a projected sea level rise of 80cm by 2100. This paper reviews adaptation actions in climate change strategies prepared by four urban Queensland coastal councils (e.g. Cairns, Gold Coast, Redland, and Sunshine Coast), and one community-based climate adaptation action plan for Bribie Island in Moreton Bay. The actions in these climate change plans are analysed for their adaptive response categories: Emphasising Nature, Emphasising Development and Managed Nature (Vasey-Ellis, 2009), along with Council Governance of climate change, and Emphasising Communities. Climate change planning and infrastructure responses by Queensland coastal councils mainly focus on protecting coastal development from erosion and other climate hazards, and building community resilience, supplemented by ‘soft’ environmental actions protecting nature. While some climate plans included actions for shoreline erosion, coastal inundation, and storm surges, only one addressed sea level rise impacts on buildings and heritage (i.e. Redland)

Climate change mitigation by Greater Adelaide councils

This paper reports on carbon mitigation actions adopted by Greater Adelaide councils (n=14) in South Australia. A survey of environmental officers profiled carbon mitigation actions, emissions auditing, and motives for emissions reduction by councils. The main reasons for carbon actions were a climate change plan, showing climate leadership, and cost savings

Governing Carbon Mitigation and Climate Change within Local Councils: A Case Study of Adelaide, South Australia

There is growing concern about climate change impacts on local government areas. In Australia, the federal carbon tax (from 1 July 2012) will also increase costs for local councils. This paper evaluates what carbon mitigation (i.e. energy, water, and waste management) actions have been implemented by metropolitan Adelaide councils (n=14) and why (or why not). A survey of environmental officers profiled carbon mitigation actions, emissions auditing, and motives for emissions reduction by Adelaide councils. The main reasons for adopting carbon actions were a climate change plan, climate leadership, and cost savings. Internal council governance of climate change actions was also evaluated. A climate governance framework based on adaptive management, communication, and reflective practice (Nursey-Bray 2010) was applied to assess climate mitigation by Adelaide councils

Cultural values in sustainable tourism: conflicts between indigenous culture and recreation in protected areas

This paper evaluates cultural conflicts between indigenous groups, recreation users and management agencies over the appropriate amenity use of protected areas in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. It assesses both social values conflicts and interpersonal conflicts between groups with different worldviews about landscapes, resource use and recreation. This paper identifies six types of cross-cultural conflicts between indigenous peoples and recreation users: Sacred sites/Religious beliefs, Resource use, Land use, Visitor infrastructure, Recreation activity, and Place names. Management strategies to address cultural values in sustainable tourism and cultural conflicts over recreational use of natural areas are presented

Climate futures: carbon mitigation actions by Adelaide councils

There is growing concern about climate change impacts on local government areas. This includes both climate change adaptation measures, and climate change mitigation through carbon reduction actions. In Australia, the new federal carbon tax, with effect from 1 July 2012, will also increase energy, materials and fuel costs for local councils. This paper profiles a research project about climate change mitigation by local councils. It evaluates what mitigation (i.e. energy, water, and waste management) actions have been implemented by local councils and why (or why not). Council governance of climate change mitigation actions is also assessed. This paper specifically reports on carbon mitigation actions adopted by Greater Adelaide councils (n=14) in South Australia. A survey of environmental officers profiled carbon mitigation actions, emissions auditing, and motives for emissions reduction by Adelaide councils. The main reasons for adopting carbon actions were a climate change plan, climate leadership by councils, and cost savings. Crucial issues for climate governance include council policies or plans on carbon mitigation, funding, and staff resources for carbon programs

Climate change and global tourism: a research compendium

This research compendium lists all current publications in English relevant to climate change and global tourism. It covers articles, books and reports published from 1985 through to July 2011. The articles were located through keyword searches (i.e. climate change; carbon emissions/footprint) of tourism journals; major tourism organisations (e.g. WTC, WTTC, PATA, ETC); academic publishers; key databases (i.e. Google Scholar, OAIster, Scopus); environmental agencies; and research centres. This comprehensive review of published research about tourism and climate change provides a wide range of global case studies about the impacts of climate change on key tourism sectors and regions. These cover both adaptation and mitigation responses to climate change by the tourism industry

Local planning for climate adaptation in coastal Queensland

This paper reviews adaptation actions in climate change strategies by four urban Queensland coastal councils (e.g. Cairns, Gold Coast, Redland, and Sunshine Coast), and two community-based climate action plans for Bribie Island, and the Noosa Biosphere. The actions in these six plans are analysed for their adaptive response categories: Emphasising Nature, Emphasising Development and Managed Nature (Vasey-Ellis 2009), along with Council Governance of climate change, and Emphasising Community. Climate change planning and infrastructure responses by Queensland coastal councils mainly focus on protecting coastal development from erosion and other climate hazards, and building community resilience, supplemented by 'soft' environmental actions protecting nature. While some climate change plans for coastal areas included actions for shoreline erosion, coastal inundation, and storm surges, only two addressed sea level rise impacts. This review found an integrated mix of climate adaptation actions for nature, governance and community is required for enhanced adaptive capacity at the local level

Climate change mitigation survey of Queensland councils: carbon footprint management

Climate change impacts and carbon mitigation initiatives are key issues for local government (ACELG, 2011; Pillora, 2011; Storey et al, 2012). This research evaluates carbon mitigation actions by 32 local councils in Queensland. A 2012 survey profiled climate change responses, carbon mitigation actions, and council motives for emissions reduction. The study found carbon actions related to council size and capacity, coastal location, and climate change strategies. Carbon actions were mainly implemented by City, then Regional, and lastly Shire councils. Carbon leadership was mainly evident among coastal councils and larger inland councils (>30,000 resident population) that assessed their emissions. Larger metropolitan and coastal councils were more ‘carbon‐ready’ (i.e. consolidating or mainstreaming carbon actions) than smaller inland rural councils (i.e. latent or emerging actions) (LGAQ, 2009). Some 13 Queensland councils had completed an assessment of carbon emissions, while five councils planned to assess emissions. Just three surveyed councils purchased Green Power from renewable energy while four councils had a green purchasing program. Key motives for adopting carbon actions were: cost savings; environmental regulations; council climate strategy; council resolutions on climate change; and to demonstrate climate leadership. The main barriers to carbon actions were: cost and lack of funding; reliance on the operating budget; lack of council policies; indifference to climate change by some councillors and managers; lack of staff to implement climate action; and environmental regulations. Most Queensland local councils were minimalistic or opportunistic in adopting carbon actions, while a few progressively integrated lower carbon measures in council operations. The study identifies key challenges for Queensland local government in moving to a low carbon future

Carbon mitigation actions by Queensland councils

As part of the broader national response to global warming, local government in Queensland faces the challenge of implementing policy, organisational and technical initiatives to mitigate its carbon emissions. In Australia, this includes compliance with greenhouse gas emissions thresholds of 25,000tCO2-e under the federal government’s National Greenhouse Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007 and Clean Energy Act 2011. The implementation of a federal carbon tax from 1 July 2012 will also increase the cost of electricity, fuel and materials for councils. This paper reviews carbon mitigation measures implemented by Queensland councils (n=32) at the City, Regional and Shire level, based on a climate change survey completed in 2012. The survey was based on carbon mitigation actions recommended in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program, and a desktop review of climate change plans and carbon actions listed on Queensland council websites. The results from this survey of Queensland councils highlights their climate change responses, carbon mitigation measures, carbon emissions reporting, motives for emissions reduction, and internal or external barriers to implementing carbon mitigation actions. This survey found metropolitan, larger and/or coastal councils are more ‘carbon-ready’ (i.e. consolidating or mainstreaming carbon actions) than smaller, inland, rural Queensland councils (i.e. latent or emerging actions) (LGAQ, 2009). Climate change plans and associated carbon actions are mainly implemented by larger councils (>30,000 resident population). Carbon mitigation actions correlated with institutional size and capacity, coastal location, and assessment of carbon emissions from council operations. In this study, Queensland councils were largely minimalistic or opportunistic in climate change mitigation while a few progressively integrated low carbon actions in council operations. The paper identifies key challenges for local government in moving to a low carbon future