Why was the Climate Emergency Action Plan developed?

    Manningham Council has long recognised the risks of climate change and has been taking climate action for a long time. Climate change is already having a significant global impact. In Manningham, climate change risks and impacts are growing including more extreme weather, increased average temperatures, water availability risks and the flow on effects from these things which all threaten the liveability of Manningham.

    The Climate Emergency Action Plan represents a summary of our direction for helping to address climate change for the benefit of Manningham. By increasing climate action, we have the opportunity to improve Manningham’s liveability, strengthen community health and wellbeing and build the resilience of our natural and built environments and the economy.

    What are Council’s climate mitigation targets?

    Climate mitigation targets are targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. During 2021, Council adopted the following targets which have now been incorporated into the draft Climate Emergency Action Plan:

    • net zero emissions for Council by 2028
    • net zero emissions for community by 2035

    What role does community climate action play?

    We need to significantly scale up community climate action in Manningham and we all share responsibility for this. Net zero by 2035 is a very ambitious and challenging target we are reaching for. Previous community feedback and Council policy and action demonstrates there is a strong shared commitment to increase community climate action. This will require appropriate resourcing and partnership between Council, community, all levels of government and the private sector.

    There are a wide range of community climate actions included in the Climate Emergency Action Plan that Council wants to advocate for and facilitate and assist the community with. Some of these actions build on and expand existing work that the community and Council already does. As mentioned in the Climate Emergency Action Plan, Council intends to increase support for this action in partnership with the community and other stakeholders.

    How will individual actions be prioritised?

    Our history of action, experience and momentum provide a solid basis for us to move forward with increased climate action into the future and towards achieving the 2028 and 2035 net zero targets. It will be natural to build on and expand on work that has already occurred or is already underway; for example, implementing FOGO (food organics, gardens organics waste service) or council and residential rooftop solar programs.

    In this community consultation process, we are seeking feedback on the top three types of action you think the Manningham community and Council should prioritise. This will be important feedback.

    In the years ahead and through to the net zero target years of 2028 and 2035, climate actions will be further investigated, developed and implemented. Where necessary, financial commitment to funding actions will be decided annually through the Council budget process. As incorporated into the Climate Emergency Action Plan, Council also believes that actions should be based on best value and be economically prudent, environmentally viable and technically proven.