Skip navigation

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Represented by Despi O'Connor, Mayor

Answer

How does your organisation address climate change?

Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Climate Emergency Plan, adopted by Council in August 2020, guides the Peninsula towards zero net community carbon emissions by 2040 to restore a safe climate pathway. The plan includes interim targets of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, 65% by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2035.

In the first year of implementation, we have commenced delivery of 70% of the 172 tasks set out in the Plan. Some of these include:

  • Successful advocacy by the community and the Shire to oppose the AGL Gas Import Terminal
  • Achieving Carbon Neutral certification for Shire operations through the Climate Active program
  • 2 ha of biolinks created and nearly 17,000 trees and shrubs planted, sequestering carbon and delivering on the objectives of the Biodiversity Conservation Plan (2018)
  • The Annual Budget FY21/22 included $500,000 to implement the Climate Emergency Plan
  • Climate Action Grant Program launched with $100,000 available for community groups, businesses and schools delivering climate action
  • Launch of the first stage of Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection
  • Expansion of the Shire’s school and community environmental education program, with multiple webinars, workshops and new lessons offered
  • Launch of the Community Energy Program to support the formation of a community energy group in the Shire
  • Direct support for community energy efficiency, including a Solar and Energy Bulk Buy and a partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to deliver the Energy Savvy Upgrade program
  • Investigation and research on climate resilience and adaptation, which will inform key documents, such as the Health & Wellbeing Plan and the Climate Adaptation Strategy
  • Adoption of key strategies, plans and policies including the Beyond Zero Waste Strategy (Aug 2020), Single Use Plastics Policy (Aug 2020), ESD Policy for Council Building and Civil Works (Sept 2020), Waste Contamination Policy (Feb 2021)

For full details refer to our Climate Emergency Plan Progress Report 2021. The Shire is also a signatory to the Global Covenant of Mayors, contributing to the targets set through the Paris Agreement.

What is your organisation doing to create a better future?

The Shire is committed to implementing the actions within the Climate Emergency Plan to achieve zero net emissions across the Peninsula by 2040 across the peninsula. A key component of this is embedding climate emergency across the organisational plans and policies. This includes integrating climate change actions into the Shire’s Draft Integrated Water Management Plan, Flood and Stormwater Management Strategy and Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy.

Key commitments within the Climate Emergency plan for the next few years include:

  • Establish an executive-led Climate Oversight Group to embed climate emergency priorities into all Shire decisions, programs, policies, strategies and actions
  • Develop a Climate Advocacy plan to achieve social and economic change at state and federal levels
  • Develop a regional electric vehicle charging roadmap
  • Source all Shire energy requirements from renewable generation by 2023
  • By 2025, all Shire pool vehicles will emit zero tailpipe emissions
  • Provide advice to support community owned renewable energy programs such as solar farms and micro-grids
  • Develop and implement a Carbon Bio-sequestration Implementation Plan for local terrestrial vegetation, soil carbon and blue/teal carbon programs

Read more about Mornington Peninsula Shire’s climate commitments here.