Australian local governments deliver record greenhouse gas reduction

Local Government Action on Climate Change: CCP Australia Measures Evaluation Report 2008

As well as cutting carbon emissions by 4.7 million tonnes, the 3000 actions reported by 184 participating councils in 2007/08 saved money; reduced water use, air pollution and traffic congestion; and, improved community health and fitness.

‘Our Cities for Climate Protection councils across Australia have the knowledge and skills to make good climate change decisions,’ said Mr Wescott.

‘Collectively this group, which represents 84% of Australians, saved a brilliant 4.7 million tonnes of potential greenhouse emissions in 2007/08, up from 3.7 million tonnes for the previous year. This is equivalent to removing well over one million cars from the road for an entire year!’

Releasing the latest Cities for Climate Protection Measures Evaluation Report at a special breakfast briefing on Tuesday 9 December, Mr Wescott stressed the importance of measuring and reporting successes.

‘Since 1998, our collaboration with local government has prevented the release of 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas and we are seeing similar success with our water management campaign,’ Mr Wescott said.

CCP Australia is the only program measuring cumulative abatement actions at the local level for a whole nation and Australia’s collective results are already encouraging other countries in our region to take up our local action approach.

Download the 2008 CCP Australia Measures Evaluation Report [PDF 1.7MB]

Previous CCP Australia Measures Evaluation Reports are available from the CCP Reports page