Brighton Council

Mayor: Leigh Gray

Brighton Council, Tasmania, acknowledges the traditional owners: the Mumirimina people and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community today as the continuing custodians of this land and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

The Council recognises climate change action is required now to reduce the impacts of climate change impacts, for example, bushfire, flooding and heatwaves on our community.

The Brighton Council Climate Change and Resilience Strategy 2019 includes actions to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience as the climate continues to change.

Across Council operations a zero emissions by 2040 target, with an interim target of a 30% emissions reduction by 2030, was set in 2021. Over 95kW of rooftop solar has been installed on Council buildings alongside energy efficiency upgrades to heating and lighting. More than 1000 streetlights were switched over to more efficient LED lighting. A community organic food waste and green waste collection service was introduced in 2021.

Brighton also has a Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Plan, to identify the best ways to manage climate change risks and latest climate change impacts information available.

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is an international alliance of cities with a shared long-term vision of promoting voluntary action to combat climate change and transition to low-emission and resilient societies. The Global Covenant now includes over 10,000 cities from 120 countries, representing over 970 million people and 12.4% of the total global population, and is the largest global network of councils leading action on climate change.

GCoM Badges Awarded

Lenakel Town

Mayor: Nakou Samuel

Lenakel Town is situated on the coast of the island of Tanna, Tafea Province in Vanuatu with a population of about 500.

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is an international alliance of cities with a shared long-term vision of promoting voluntary action to combat climate change and transition to low-emission and resilient societies. The Global Covenant now includes over 10,000 cities from 120 countries, representing nearly one billion people and 15% of the total global population, and is the largest global network of councils leading action on climate change.

GCoM Badges Awarded

Sutherland Shire

Mayor Pesce Carmelo

In March 2020, Sutherland Shire Council resolved to become Greenhouse Gas Neutral in its operations by 2030, and in the community by 2050. To meet these targets, Sutherland Shire’s Climate Strategy is being developed within the framework of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy network.

The Sutherland Shire Climate Strategy includes measuring current greenhouse gas emissions for both the Council and community and using that information to set targets for reductions, implement actions, and report their success.

Below is a list of sustainability programs and projects already underway at Sutherland Shire:

• Committing to Green Power by sourcing all of its electricity from renewable sources

• Constructing roads using recycled glass and plastics 

• Encouraging de-carbonisation through transportation with various active transport programs

• Reducing the urban heat island effect and through street tree planting 

• Reducing waste through our reusable nappy rebate

• Adding Electric Vehicles to our corporate fleet

• Supporting the community in uptake of solar PV through a pilot project with  Solar My School program

• Diverting e-waste from landfills by supporting The Reconnect Project, which refurbishes used electronic devices and provides them to people in need

• Supporting Speaking 4 the Planet, an arts-based competition that encourages school students to get creative and engage with environmental and sustainability issues.

Sutherland Shire is a proud signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. We aim to lead action in our municipality, in our region and beyond.

GCoM Badges Awarded

City of Greater Bendigo

Mayor: Andrea Metcalf

The City of Greater Bendigo has adopted a new Climate Change and Environment Strategy to accelerate local climate action and guide us to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

The City has already switched to renewable energy for its own energy needs via the Victorian Energy Collaboration - the largest-ever emissions reduction project undertaken by Local Governments in Australia.

We continue to upgrade our buildings to improve their energy efficiency and are incrementally transitioning our facilities off of gas. We are switching over our fleet to electric vehicles to reduce emissions from fossil fuels and are exploring waste management solutions to reduce emissions from landfill and our waste collection services. 

We are also about to start the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration, which involves working with stakeholders across the City and region to help households, businesses and organisations reduce emissions as quickly as possible.

We are excited to be leading by example.

The City of Greater Bendigo is on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country. We acknowledge and extend our appreciation for the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Peoples, the Traditional Owners of this land. We pay our respects to leaders and Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of all Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Peoples.

GCOM Badges Awarded

Bellingen Shire Council

Mayor: Dominic King

Bellingen Shire was early to act on climate change with the development of the Bellingen Emissions Reduction Program and a regional Climate Change Adaption Strategy in 2010.

A decade on, a diverse range of projects have been delivered including the installation of 184kW of solar power capacity at sites with high electricity consumption, river rehabilitation programs at 36 sites and the allocation of dozens of grants for community groups to protect our environment and build community capacity. 

Bellingen Shire Council resolved to Declare a Climate Emergency in March 2019. The declaration acknowledged that Bellingen Shire is being affected by climate impacts, particularly sea level rise, bushfires, heat waves, severe storms, drought and floods.  As part of this declaration, Council prepared and adopted a Climate Emergency Response Framework and Corporate Carbon Plan with a target of zero net emissions by 2040.

2021 will see Council continue to plan for the future by engaging with the community in the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan. This will guide actions to build resilience and mitigate the risks our changing climate poses to the environment, residents, industry and visitors of Bellingen Shire.

GCoM Badges Awarded

City of Unley

Mayor Michael Hewitson AM

The City of Unley is committed to minimising the impacts of climate change while increasing resilience for the City and its community.

Council has worked for many years on preparing and responding to the impacts of climate change through their regional climate change adaptation partnership, Resilient East. This partnership takes a coordinated approach with seven local governments and the Government of South Australia to improve adaptation, and, ensure a resilient, climate smart and prosperous future for the eastern Adelaide region.

The City of Unley is well known for its leafy suburbs. Both Council and the community take pride in their trees and landscaped areas. The urban forest is valued for the character it adds to the City, as well as the cooling provided to homes, businesses and public spaces.  The City of Unley has adopted a target to increase green cover by 20% by 2045. The goal includes preserving the existing canopy cover, and incorporating new tree canopy wherever possible.

The City of Unley is reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the use of smarter technology and renewable energy. In 2021, a new Climate and Energy Plan will be finalised to better track, manage and reduce Council’s operational carbon and energy footprint. The Plan will include an implementation strategy of priority works, timing and cost estimates.

GCoM Badges Awarded

Blacktown City Council

Mayor - Cr Tony Bleasdale, OAM

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is an international alliance of cities with a shared long-term vision of promoting voluntary action to combat climate change and transition to low-emission and resilient societies. The Global Covenant now includes over 10,000 cities from 120 countries, representing over 970 million people and 12.4% of the total global population, and is the largest global network of councils leading action on climate change.

GCoM Badges Awarded