A survey conducted by USQ's Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development (ACSBD) has found metropolitan and coastal councils are more carbon-ready than their smaller, rural counterparts.
Associate Professor Heather Zeppel and Ms Christina James-Overheu who carried out the survey on behalf of the centre said the focus was carbon management.
'It evaluated carbon mitigation actions, greenhouse gas reporting, offsetting and carbon price preparation by Queensland Councils,' Assoc Prof Zeppel said.
Commissioned by Local Government Infrastructure Services (LGIS), as the first state-wide survey of carbon actions implemented by Councils, it assessed carbon readiness in response to Federal Government legislations on emissions, clean energy and carbon price.
The survey was completed by 32 Councils, including City, Regional, Shire and Aboriginal Shire councils.
'Council preparations for the carbon price are most advanced in larger Councils, in those with a coastal location and in Councils that already monitor and measure carbon emissions. They were further advanced in their ‘carbon-readiness’.
'Larger councils had more resources and staff dedicated to sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives, had developed climate change strategies, and were aware of reducing emissions.
'The types of measures in place to reduce carbon emissions were mainly included in waste and water management plans or environmental plans.
'The chief carbon mitigation actions by Councils related to energy, water and waste efficiency and providing information to residents and business on reducing their emissions.
'Council operations generating carbon emissions include landfill, electricity, vehicle fleet, waste and water services and street lighting.'
The survey found 13 Councils already assessed their carbon emissions and five planned to do so.
Dr Zeppel said the key motivations for Councils to reduce emissions were cost savings, environmental regulations, climate change strategies and leadership.
'The Councils, who took part, identified the foremost impacts of a carbon tax on their operations to be a higher energy and fuel costs, a greater need to manage landfill emissions, compliance costs and increased materials costs.'
The results of the carbon survey were forwarded to all 73 Queensland Councils, local government associations within Queensland and presented at LGIS Waste Forums in Rockhampton and Brisbane.
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