CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY —
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
718. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the recent target by the
City of Bayswater for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and net zero
emissions by 2040, and to community expectations that the state government act
on the issue of climate change.
(1) How will the
state government support local councils taking the lead on climate change
action, amid a state policy void and inadequate action at a federal level?
(2) What resources or support will the state
government provide to assist local councils in meeting these targets?
(3) Will the
minister extend congratulations to the City of Bayswater for its leadership and
action on climate change?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The state
government is working collaboratively with local government to understand
climate change actions at the local level,
including an agreement with local government through the State Local Government
Partnership Agreement, which was signed in August 2017. A new state climate
policy is being developed in collaboration with state government agencies and
government trading organisations. The policy is due to be finalised in early
2020.
(2) As the state
climate change policy develops, it will provide an opportunity to identity the
resources to support local government in its climate change efforts. An example
of this is the ''Climate Resilient Councils: Preparing for impacts of
climate change'' grants recently funded by the federal Natural Disaster
Resilience program. This project is aimed at assisting local governments to
strengthen their organisational governance arrangements for climate resilience
planning and decision-making around the potential for increased incidence and
severity of natural disasters related to climate change. This is a collaborative
project between the Western Australian Local Government Association, the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation, and the Department of Local Government, Sport and
Cultural Industries.
(3) Yes, I congratulate
the City of Bayswater for its leadership and action on climate change. The
local government sector has an endorsed policy position on climate change that
demonstrates its acknowledgement of the impacts of climate change and its
commitment to working with government to develop locally appropriate mitigation
and adaptation strategies.