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

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 CommitteeMeeting 4 -Action plan

Steering CommitteeMeeting 4 -Action plan

Steering CommitteeMeeting 5 -Review

Steering CommitteeMeeting 5 -Review

Steering Committee Meeting 3 -MitigationSteering Committee

Meeting 3 -MitigationWorkshop 4

-Mitigation actions

Workshop 4-Mitigation actions

Identify Planning Team

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 http://nsidc.org/glaciers/gallery

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 moreClarence 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 http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/Science/Greenhouseeffect.htm

Sources of emissions

Natural sources

All Images taken from stock.xchng vi - http://www.sxc.hu/

Sources of emissions

Human sources

All Images taken from stock.xchng vi - http://www.sxc.hu/

Australia’s emissions

Per capita greenhouse gas emissions

Sources: DCC (2008); IEA (2007) in: Garnaut (2008)

Major emissions sources - Australia

Category 1,000 tCO2eNational Greenhouse Gas Inventory Total 597,156.55Energy 408,162.69Industrial Processes 30,342.89Agriculture 88,106.04Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry 55,977.82Waste 14,567.10

Source: DCCEE (2008)

Major emissions sources - NSW

Category 1,000 tCO2eNational Greenhouse Gas Inventory Total 162,720.51Energy 117,199.22Industrial Processes 11,631.15Agriculture 17,547.50Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry 11,071.43Waste 5,271.21

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 pestsCommunity• Increased demand for health care & emergency services Land use planning• Loss of property and assets• ESD design into developments

Windmill by @dino 2006 www.flickr.com

Implications

Economic impacts• Impact on tourism• Insurance and liability issues• Electricity supplyWaste• Large emission source that council can influence• National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting

System (NGERS)• CPRS

Upper Colo River, NSW by island home www.flickr.com

• 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• LitigationFulfill:• 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. http://www.abs.gov.au/ (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, www.ageis.greenhouse.gov.au (visited May, 2010).• CSIRO, 2007, Catchment Scenario Reports

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climateChange/nswreports.htm (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

http://www.garnautreview.org.au/index.htm (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. http://www.ipcc.ch/press_information/press_information_fact_sheet1.htm (visited December, 2009)

• Local Government Act 1993 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/(visited December, 2009)

• Palutikof, J.P., 2010, The view from the front line: Adapting Australia to climate change, Global Environmental Change 20 (2010) 218-219.