ALGA welcomes the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022.
Working in partnership with other levels of government, councils can deliver highly effective climate change projects that can mitigate against the production of greenhouse gas emissions, and assist our communities to be better prepared and better able to adapt to future climatic conditions.
Councils across Australia are asking the Federal Government for a Local Government Climate Response Partnership Fund of $200 million over four years to enable planning and preparation to minimise the impacts of climate change in our communities and enable councils to achieve climate neutrality as soon as practicable.
Economic modelling commissioned by ALGA shows that this initiative would create 467 new jobs and contribute $73 million per year to Australia’s GDP.
Councils are committed to reducing Australia’s emissions, but with a dedicated federal funding stream could do even more, delivering local solutions to this national challenge.