Council’s strategic vision for the Cairns region to become one of Australia’s greenest is one step closer to realisation with the adoption of a revised carbon emission reduction policy.

Cairns Regional Council has recognised that the area has been nationally assessed as an Australian hot spot where impacts of climate change are likely to be significant. The new policy aims to make Council carbon neutral over the coming decade.

Mayor Val Schier said the new scheme would act to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emission by 50% on current levels by 2020.

“For Council, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) is the single most effective way to help in avoiding climate change and an effective way to set the example to the broader community,” Cr Schier said.

“Council has the ability to significantly reduce these emissions by reducing energy consumption across the many areas of its operations.”

“Setting down this commitment in policy ensures that the reduction of GHG will be considered in future policy making and deciding on issues.”

Achieving carbon neutrality will require reducing the overall net CO2 emissions of operations to zero while fulfilling the operational requirements of Council. It involves reducing and avoiding emission through a combination of adjustments such as how energy is purchased and used, transport choices, waste disposal and the offset of carbon.

Budget allocation within Council and access to other levels of government funding will be critical to the delivery of the policy.

Long term benefits of carbon management will reduce the organisation’s sensitivity to increases in future energy costs, save money through increasing energy efficient measures, create partnerships with community and businesses and provide potential for developing new local industry.