Community Emissions Action Plan

Background:

The Community Emissions Action Plan (CEAP) will outline a set of goals to help our community reduce their emissions. In February 2020, Wingecarribee Shire Council declared a Climate Emergency. This declaration recognises both the scientific consensus and the deep concern about climate change held by the Southern Highlands community.

Council is already taking significant action to mitigate climate change, including the development of an Environment and Climate Change (ECC) Strategy for the Shire and a corporate Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) that is currently in draft format, to address Council’s own emissions. The Environment and Climate Change Strategy was adopted by Council in February 2024. The Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is a key document that outlines the priorities and issues in our Shire and considers the impacts, both in the short term and long term and how we will address them.

Council is in the process of developing a Community Emissions Action Plan (CEAP) to support the community in taking meaningful action to reduce emissions and respond to the climate emergency. The Plan is intended to complement the Environment and Climate Change (ECC) Strategy and corporate Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and was a key commitment made by Council as part of its climate emergency declaration.

How can I view the Plan?

The proposal and associated documentation may be viewed:

Document library on this page on the right hand column.
Council’s Customer Service Counter, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577, between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Council's Libraries

When is the Exhibition Period?

The Plan is on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. It will open from Monday 20 May and will close on Monday 17 June 2024.

How can I make a Submission?

Submission Form (below); or
Emailed to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au with the email subject title Draft Community Emissions Action Plan; or
Hand delivered to Council's Civic Centre at the address provided above; or
Posted to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577

Only written submissions can be considered and must be received by Council before 4:30pm on Monday 17 June 2024. Please quote file reference Draft Community Emissions Action Plan when making your submission.

Your personal information contained in your submission is collected by Council for the purpose of corresponding with you about your submission. If you make an anonymous submission, Council will be unable to contact you further. A summary of the points made in your submission will be contained in the Council meetings business paper and made public on Council’s website.

Next Steps:

When feedback has been received and amendments made the plan will go to the following Council meeting for adoption.

Document Library

Over the last five years especially we have all felt the impacts of climate change, which is not only locally focused however a global concern.

Wingecarribee Shire is anticipated to face more hot days, fewer cold nights, and increased average temperatures - up to 1.0 degrees Celsius in the short term and 2.5 degrees Celsius in the long term if no action is taken.

Emissions in our community vary by sector, with industrial emissions, including Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), being the largest share, as show in the below graph. Efforts are underway to reduce emissions in this sector, with more work ahead. Involving industry representatives in our community engagement sessions is crucial for the plan's success.

Everyone, from individuals and households to businesses and governments at all levels, play a role in emissions reduction.

The specific actions individuals and entities can take depend on their decision-making authority and influence within the community. For instance, households and businesses can choose to install rooftop solar, but they have limited control over the grid's renewable energy supply.

Similarly, while local governments have direct authority over their operations and assets, they lack control over decisions made by residents, businesses, or higher government levels.

Following the plan creation, Council's role is to support emissions reduction within the community. This support may come in the form of advocacy, the installation of community infrastructure like Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers, increased energy efficiency standards for new construction, discouraging new gas line installations, providing educational events and resources, aiding businesses in procuring 100% renewable energy through Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs), and promoting initiatives such as community batteries just to name a few.

Community engagement is essential to collaboratively develop a comprehensive action plan to assist our community in reducing emissions. The Community Emissions Action Plan focuses on community greenhouse gas emissions, covering all activities in the Wingecarribee Shire community, distinct from the Council's operational emissions.

Three community engagement sessions were held in early November 2023 which provided valuable insight into some of the needs and wants of our community. We wish to continue to gather input from the community, to provide strong foundations for the creation of the Community Emissions Action Plan.

Media Release

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more? You can contact us below:

Name	Environment & Sustainability
Phone	02 4868 0888
Email	sustainabilityservices@wsc.nsw.gov.au

Name	Wingecarribee Shire Council
Phone	02 4868 0888
Email	mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
Website	www.wsc.nsw.gov.au

Name

Wingecarribee Shire Council

Phone

02 4868 0888

mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au

Website