Local governments are critical for delivering climate solutions

ALGA has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which underscores the importance of supporting councils in protecting communities from the changing climate.

The NCRA outlined a sobering but important picture of the ways the changing climate is affecting Australia’s health systems, regional areas, infrastructure and the environment.  The NCRA and the NAP also showed communities urgently need local adaptation action and solutions.

ALGA’s latest research highlighted that Australia’s councils are already delivering more than $400 million per year in projects to prepare their communities for the changing climate needs, and will invest about $2 billion in adaptation over the next five years.

ALGA President Mayor Matt Burnett said: “We welcome and are encouraged by the Government’s climate risk assessment that recognises local governments can play a key role in making communities and local infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.

“Future-proofing communities from the changing climate continues to be a national priority, and Australia’s councils are leading the way by investing heavily in climate resilience solutions,” Mayor Burnett said.

“Innovative councils are showing leadership by planting trees to combat heat, providing community education for bushfires, coastal hazard management systems and upgrading stormwater systems and flood resilience programs.

“However climate-resilient infrastructure is expensive and takes time to build, so we need sustainable funding from the Government to implement long-term planning and adaptation now and into the future.

“We are calling for a new $400 million per year climate adaptation fund, to be distributed across all councils to provide local, place-based solutions to Australia’s changing climate.”

Mayor Burnett said many councils are facing significant financial sustainability challenges, and we urgently need the Government to recommence the federal inquiry into local government sustainability.

“We are also calling for a return to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue for local government over three years.”