A 10-year plan to enhance and strengthen the City of Logan's resilience to climate change has been adopted.
Logan City Council today endorsed its Climate Change Resilience Strategy 2021-2031, which outlines the steps Council will take, in partnership with the community, to help the City of Logan adapt to a changing climate.
A key focus of the strategy is reducing, where possible, the impact of climate change on Council's operations.
The strategy also outlines how Council can develop a better understanding of the impacts of climate change and improve its communication about the issue with the community.
Environment Chair Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said development of the strategy was an important step in safeguarding the City of Logan's future.
"Our community values the environment and expects Council to be responsible and sustainable in everything we do," Councillor Raven said.
"Climate resilience is critical to prepare for and limit the impact of adverse weather events in our region.
"This strategy provides an important road map for Council, and for our community, ensuring that any action we take will positively affect our City into the future."
Council undertook extensive public consultation in developing the strategy.
Seventy-four per cent of respondents supported the strategy's objectives.
Some of the specific actions Council will take to deliver on the strategy include:
- recognising current and emerging climate scenario modelling identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Australian Government and the Queensland Government
- undertaking assessments to identify Council's exposure to climate-related risks
- embedding climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience considerations into Council's corporate governance documents
- reporting on our progress and performance in identifying and implementing climate change related actions.
Today's adoption of the Climate Change Resilience Strategy 2021-2031 precedes the next major project under Council's Carbon Reduction Strategy, which is the installation of 480 solar panels on the roof of the Logan City Council Administration Centre.
The 200-kilowatt solar system is expected to save $38,400 in electricity costs and 250 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. Works will begin this month.
The project follows the recent completion of a 1-megawatt solar farm at the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant, which increased Logan City Council's solar capacity to 2MW - that's enough renewable energy to power 600 households.
The Carbon Reduction Strategy outlines Council's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for Council's operations by the end of 2022.
