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Port Stephens Greenhouse Local Action Plan

An increase in the level of atmospheric gases due to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil for energy and transport is resulting in a phenomena known as the 'Enhanced Greenhouse Effect' or 'Global Warming'.

This involves the expected warming of the earth due to increased amounts of radiant heat being trapped in the atmosphere which in turn increases the temperature of the earth.

In general the balance of scientific opinion across the globe is that global warming will substantially affect the worlds climate, and that this will result in increased natural disasters such as floods, droughts and storms, as well as more sustained changes to existing weather patterns. Changes such as these will cause widespread economic, social and environmental dislocation.

In June 1999 Port Stephens Council resolved to join the Cities for Climate Protection Program. This is a program which assists local governments and their communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By joining this program Council committed itself to achieving the following five Milestones:

1. Conduct an inventory and forecast for Community and Corporate (council)
2. greenhouse gas emissions
3. Establish an emissions reduction goal
4. Develop and adopt a Local Action Plan
5. Implement the Local Action Plan
6. Monitor and report on achievements.

Since joining the program Council has achieved Milestone One and Milestone Two. Milestone 3 requires Council to endorse a Local Action Plan outlining the strategy that will be undertaken to achieve its emissions reduction goal. Council endorsed a reduction goal of 20% for both the corporate and community sectors on 18 July 2000.

This Local Action Plan therefore includes a range of strategies that are designed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Council's corporate activities and the activities of the wider Port Stephens community.

Corporate actions are designed to raise staff awareness and involvement in greenhouse related issues, improve the reporting systems associated with energy, fuel and water consumption, ensure the use of energy and water efficient products and appliances, maximise the energy efficiency of council buildings and facilities, and enable funds generated by energy saving initiatives to be reinvested into further energy and water saving measures.

Community strategies include promoting local industry involvement in greenhouse programs, improving the energy efficiency of new industrial, commercial and residential developments in the Local Government Area, assisting small business to undertake energy efficiency programs, promoting Compact Urban Village principles to reduce car dependency, encouraging the retrofitting of existing residential dwellings to improve energy efficiency, encouraging the use of alternative transport options, implementing the Port Stephens Waste Strategy and encouraging the establishment of greenhouse sinks through the retention and replanting of vegetation in the Local Government Area.

A complete list of proposed actions is summarised in Section 5 of the Local Action Plan - see link below.

Contact details
Environmental Education & Sustainability Officer
02 4980 0469 (ph)
02 4987 3612 (fax)
duncan.jinks@portstephens.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Port Stephens Council
This page: http://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/environment/1271/1315.html