Climate change in the Town of Victoria Park
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, and its effects are being felt globally. In the Town, we are witnessing firsthand the consequences of a warming climate. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and other climate-related changes pose significant risks to our community and environment.
Developed in 2021, the Town's comprehensive Climate Emergency Plan outlines our strategies to build resilience to a changing climate.
The Climate Emergency Plan aims to reduce our organisational carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. At least 40% of these emissions are to be from direct action that the Town takes as an organisation, not simply offsetting emissions externally.
Our plan encompasses a range of strategies and initiatives to improve the Town’s resilience and reduce organisational emissions, such as:
- Implementation of an Urban Forest Strategy, which aims to increase green spaces, promote biodiversity, and enhance natural carbon sinks within our town.
- Reducing waste generation and maximising resource efficiency.
- Improving efficiency of energy use and facilities.
Part of the implementation of the Climate Emergency Plan is periodic assessment of carbon emissions reduction. This is to assess the effectiveness of actions within the Plan, and ensure that the Town is on track to reduce organisational carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.
The first of these assessment years was for 2022/23. This assessment revealed that the Town had reduced carbon emissions by 18%. The breakdown of this reduction is displayed in the infographic below.
With the 2024/25 financial year coming to a close, the Town's journey to reduce emissions continues with second organisational carbon emissions reduction assessment forthcoming in 2025/26
The results of this assessment will be shared in due course.
Climate Emergency Plan