Research projects

Climate change mitigation by Queensland councils

This project reviews greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and carbon offsetting measures implemented by Queensland councils (i.e. city, regional, & shire) in response to climate change and sustainability. It evaluates what mitigation (i.e. energy, water, & waste management) and carbon offset measures have been adopted by different local councils and why. The influence of federal and state government climate change programs (e.g. ecoBiz) and the environmental or business motives for mitigation and offset measures adopted by Queensland local councils will also be examined. The role of local government associations (e.g. Australian LGA, LGA Queensland, ICLEI Oceania, Regional Organisations of Councils) in promoting climate change mitigation and offsetting initiatives will be reviewed. This project is the first to systematically evaluate the range of GHG mitigation and carbon offsetting initiatives implemented by Queensland councils. It will also identify opportunities for local councils in sustainable technologies, renewable energy, and carbon offset markets. This project will benchmark current GHG mitigation and carbon offsetting by Queensland councils and provide guidelines on a range of climate mitigation projects for local councils.

Aims and intended outcomes
Climate change was included as a major issue in the 2009 National General Assembly of Local Government Business Papers (ALGA, 2009). Government and association reports though mainly focus on Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government (AGO, 2007, ICLEI, 2008; LGAQ, 2007; DCCEE, 2010; PIA, 2004). There has been less attention on climate change mitigation by councils, apart from a preliminary report about actions by councils in south east Queensland (Burton, 2007), and a manual: Mitigating Climate Change: An Introductory Guide for Queensland Local Government (LGAQ, 2009). Some local governments are now required to report their carbon emissions under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. Selected councils also voluntarily participate in the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Cities for Climate Protection program, by collecting emissions data and analysing the carbon footprint of council operations. Some Queensland councils have produced climate change strategies or action plans (e.g. Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Scenic Rim, & Sunshine Coast) or conducted a climate change risk assessment (e.g. Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Somerset, & Toowoomba).

This project assesses climate change mitigation and offsetting by Queensland councils by reviewing council websites and reports for information on climate change strategies, carbon mitigation and offsetting measures. It also reviews climate change, carbon offsetting, or sustainability programs promoted by local government associations and other stakeholders.

Additional information will be sought by emails, phone calls, or meetings with environmental managers at Queensland councils responsible for carbon mitigation and offsetting measures. A survey of Queensland local councils about their GHG mitigation initiatives, motives for carbon offsetting and their role in environmental or business sustainability will be conducted. A pilot survey of 20 South Australian local councils in the Greater Adelaide region will also be conducted.

Project Team
Associate Professor Heather Zeppel, Ms Christina James-Overheu

This research is funded by the Local Government Infrastructure Services (LGIS)

Further information
Click on the links below for further information about this local government research project:
Climate Change Mitigation Survey of Queensland Local Councils: Final Report
Queensland Local Government and Climate Change: Action Plans and Resources (PDF*1.1MB)
Queensland Water Utilities and Climate Change: Resources (PDF*612KB)
Climate Change and South Australia Local Government: Action Plans and Resources (PDF*839KB)

ACSBD Research Seminar Poster (PDF*670KB)
Climate Change Mitigation by Queensland Councils Presentation (PDF*2.6MB)
Planning for Climate Change by Queensland Councils (PDF*170KB)
Climate Change Planning by Queensland Coastal Councils Poster (PDF*573KB)
Carbon Mitigation Responses by Local Councils in Adelaide (PDF*326KB )
Climate Change Governance by Local Councils: Carbon Mitigation by Greater Adelaide Councils (PDF*607KB)

Publications
Zeppel, H. (2012) Carbon mitigation actions by Queensland councils. Cities in Transition, 13th International Cities Town Centres and Communities Society Conference, Gold Coast, 16-19 October.
Zeppel, H. (2012) Climate change mitigation survey of Qld councils. ACELG Qld LG Research Forum, 11 October.
Zeppel, H. (2012) Climate futures: Carbon mitigation actions by Adelaide councils. Next City: Planning for a new Energy & Climate Future, 10th International Urban Planning and Environment Symposium, Sydney, 24-27 July 2012.
Zeppel, H. (2012) Local adaptation responses in climate change planning in coastal Queensland. Australasian Journal of Regional Studies, 18 (3).
Zeppel, H. (2012) Governing carbon mitigation and climate change within councils: A case study of Adelaide, South Australia. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, 10: 70-85.
Zeppel, H. & James-Overheu, C. (2012). Climate Change Mitigation Survey of Queensland Local Councils: Final Report. ACSBD Working Paper No. 5. Springfield: ACSBD, USQ.
Zeppel, H. & James-Overheu, C. (2012) Climate change responses by Queensland local councils. In M. Hume (ed.) Regional Development: Connectedness, Business and Learning: Creating Sustainable Communities. Research Retreat 20 June 2012, Faculty of Business and Law, USQ Springfield.
Zeppel, H. & James-Overheu, C. (2013) Carbon management by Queensland local government: Climate change mitigation actions. International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 18.
Zeppel, H. & James-Overheu, C. (2011) Carbon mitigation responses by local councils in Adelaide. In M. Hume & B. Todhunter (Eds.) Building Business Communities: Justice, Performance and Change (pp. 64-70). Creating a Sustainable Scholarly Community Colloquia 9th November, Faculty of Business & Law, USQ Springfield. Springfield, Qld: University of Southern Queensland.
Zeppel, H. & James-Overheu, C. (2012) Climate change mitigation by Greater Adelaide councils. International Journal of Organisational Behaviour. 17 (2): 29-34.
Zeppel, H. (2011) Climate change governance by local councils: Carbon mitigation by Greater Adelaide councils. ACELG Local Governance in Transition: Local Government Researchers Forum 2011, Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, UTS, Sydney, 14-15 December 2011.
Zeppel, H. (2011) Planning for climate change by Queensland coastal councils. 20th anniversary NSW Coastal Conference, Tweed Heads, NSW, 8-11 November 2011.

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