Climate Change Strategy Phase 1: MidCoast Council
7.2 Management systems including sustainability framework Description
Executive leadership and commitment are required if Council’s Climate Change Strategy is to be successful. The implementation of management and governance systems for the strategy, and commitment and authority to act at relevant levels to reduce emissions and adapt, is also key for success to be achieved. Key priorities at leadership and management systems level may include: •
A leadership group that brings together key stakeholders from crossfunctional areas in Council
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Review and set targets for Council for renewable energy, carbon abatement and adaptation, including scale, timing and any interim targets
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Employ a dedicated staff resource to implement the plan and work with the community to develop a plan for their emissions
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A reporting framework that integrates the plan, key performance indicators (KPIs), climate change policy, and relevant strategic plans
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Establish responsibilities and accountabilities related to the plan, included in position descriptions
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Planning, resourcing, budgeting and funding actions through asset management plans, long term financial plans, key Council strategies and plans, Delivery Program and Operational Plans
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Review metering and continue with existing data management systems for the collection and reporting of energy and carbon emissions (i.e. Azility)
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Implement suitable measurement and verification systems, including M&V of significant abatement and adaptation projects, and the analysis of monitoring systems to determine overall progress on emissions reduction
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Develop communication, engagement and capacity-building plans that identify key staff, identify communication channels, report progress against Council’s goals, identify and develop training, induction and awareness materials, and solicit input that increases awareness, recognition and buy-in
Sustainability Framework A Sustainability Framework has been identified by Council as a top priority for Council’s future. A key part of this is embedding sustainability into the way Council does business. The desired outcome is that sustainability becomes one of our guiding principles in our Business Plans, with this measured against targets around energy, greenhouse gas, water consumption and waste, and reporting against the projects in Council’s Delivery Program and Operational Plans. In order to be ‘part of the way we do business’ and deliver these outcomes, sustainability will need to be embedded within Council’s Integrated Planning & Reporting Framework (IP&R) (illustrated below), including:
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