Introduction to climate change

Introduction Welcome & Acknowledgement Background Workshops  action plan General Manager’s support Housekeeping Facilities, OH&S, Turn off mobiles [Insert Council logo]

Purpose Developing a Climate Change Action Plan Program Keeping to time Respectful discussion Introductions Name, role, views on climate change Evaluation forms Introduction

Progress Gain internal support Steering Committee Meeting 1 -Develop a planning program Steering Committee Meeting 1 -Develop a planning program Workshop 1 -Introduction Workshop 1 -Introduction Steering Committee Meeting 2 -Research adaptation options Steering Committee Meeting 2 -Research adaptation options Steering Committee Meeting 4 -Action plan Steering Committee Meeting 4 -Action plan Steering Committee Meeting 5 -Review Steering Committee Meeting 5 -Review Steering Committee Meeting 3 -Mitigation Workshop 4 -Mitigation actions Workshop 4 -Mitigation actions Identify Planning Team Workshop 2 -Risk assessment Workshop 2 -Risk assessment Workshop 3 -Adaptation actions Workshop 3 -Adaptation actions

Participants will understand: Historical evidence The Greenhouse Effect Projections for NSW Likely impacts Implications for council Council’s role Expected outcomes Wind Farm, Blayney courtesy WBC Strategic Alliance

The planet is warming Photos courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Centre and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Archive

Terminology Climate: Average weather conditions over a long period (30 years) Climate change: Long term shift in average weather conditions Extreme events: Severe storms (rain, hail, wind) cyclones, fire and more Clarence River by Scott Lenton

Global temperature anomalies Source: Garnaut (2008)

Australian temperature anomalies Source: Garnaut (2008)

Historical evidence Rate of temperature change (°C/10 years) over the last 39 years

Historical evidence Rate of rainfall change (mm/10 years) over the last 39 years

Historical evidence Sea level rise (mm) since 1870

Global average sea level rise Source: Garnaut (2008)

The greenhouse effect Image courtesy of Climate Change Connection

Sources of emissions Natural sources All Images taken from stock.xchng vi -

Sources of emissions Human sources All Images taken from stock.xchng vi -

Australia’s emissions Per capita greenhouse gas emissions Sources: DCC (2008); IEA (2007) in: Garnaut (2008)

Major emissions sources - Australia Category1,000 tCO 2 e National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Total597, Energy408, Industrial Processes30, Agriculture88, Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry55, Waste14, Source: DCCEE (2008)

Major emissions sources - NSW Category1,000 tCO 2 e National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Total162, Energy117, Industrial Processes11, Agriculture17, Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry11, Waste5, Source: DCCEE (2008)

Australia’s emissions Greenhouse gas emissions by sector, 1990 and 2006 Source: DCC (2008) in: The Garnaut Climate Change Review (2008)

Projections for NSW Average Winter Temperature Source: Climate Change in Australia (2009)

Projections for NSW Average Summer Temperature Source: Climate Change in Australia (2009)

Projections for NSW Average Winter Rainfall Source: Climate Change in Australia (2009)

Projections for NSW Average Summer Rainfall Source: Climate Change in Australia (2009)

Projections In the next Module we will examine the projections for NSW in more detail & also the projections for this region In this Module we will briefly look at some potential impacts and implications…

What would you expect from higher temperatures and reduced annual average rainfall … ? Likely impacts?

Likely impacts Changed distributions of pests, weeds and disease (i.e. loss and gain) & extend drought Heat waves - risk for vulnerable communities (elderly, frail and infants) Increased frequency & intensity of bushfires and extended fire season (temperature, evaporation) Fire fighting in the Mount Burrell Forest in Northern NSW by Mike Rushby.

Likely impacts Lower rainfall  less water availability, reliability Increased storm intensity  increased flooding Increased storm surge and sea level rise  erosion, inundation of coastal lowlands & modification of estuaries Erosion of Access Road at Minnie Bay by Phil Rogers, Envite

Risks to communities Endangering life – e.g. bushfire, storms Heatwaves – e.g. dehydration at sporting and outdoor events Disruptions to supply chains Primary industries Property – e.g. flooding, storm damage, erosion Sheep at Cabonne, courtesy WBC Strategic Alliance

Implications Assets and infrastructure - Damage to and maintenance of: Buildings (cooling costs) Coastal infrastructure Open space, recreational facilities Stormwater drainage / levees Wastewater Water supply Sewer surcharge during Hunter storms 2008 by Hunter Councils Inc.

Implications NRM and biodiversity Loss of biodiversity Coastal management Weeds and pests Community Increased demand for health care & emergency services Land use planning Loss of property and assets ESD design into developments Windmill

Implications Economic impacts Impact on tourism Insurance and liability issues Electricity supply Waste Large emission source that council can influence National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting System (NGERS) CPRS Upper Colo River, NSW by island home

Community Health & Social Planning Planning, Assets & Infrastructure Open Space & Biodiversity Rangers & Traffic Services Mangers & Directors Legal Advice Finance Climate change is everybody’s business Photo provided by Scott Lenton

Council’s response Council has a dual role –Mitigate, or reduce, greenhouse gas emissions to reduce climate change –Adapt, or prepare for, unavoidable climate change e.g. council operations, staff, infrastructure By armisteadbooker

Why? Why should Council take action on climate change?

Why act? Avoid: Disruption to council services Unbudgeted financial impacts Litigation Fulfill: Duty of care to the community Meet KPIs in strategic plans Liveability and economic viability of a region Need to incorporate ESD into activities & decision making - requirement of the Local Government Act 1993

LGSA support Needs Analysis Survey Climate Change Summit Regional Workshops Workshop Package

Any questions?

Achievements from the workshop During the workshop we have explored: Historical evidence for climate change The Greenhouse Effect Projections for NSW Likely impacts Implications for council Council’s role

Conclusion Thank you Evaluation forms

References ABS, 2003 projections and 2005 data. (visited December, 2009) AGO, 2006, Climate Change Impacts and Risk Management – A Guide for Business and Government. DCCEE, 2008, Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts, Australian Greenhouse Emissions Information System, (visited May, 2010). CSIRO, 2007, Catchment Scenario Reports (visited December, 2009) Deacons, 2009, Briefing Paper on Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 and associated legislation. England, P., 2006, Climate Change: What are Local Governments Liable for? Griffith University Urban Research Program Issues Paper 6. Garnaut, R., 2008, The Garnaut Climate Change Review (visited February, 2010) IPCC, 2007, Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. (visited December, 2009) Local Government Act (visited December, 2009) Palutikof, J.P., 2010, The view from the front line: Adapting Australia to climate change, Global Environmental Change 20 (2010)