Climate Change

1. Overview

Climate change is a key focus for Indigo Shire Council.

We’re working on a range of initiatives to reduce our carbon emissions and minimise the impacts of climate change. 

Climate Emergency Declaration

In July 2019, Indigo Shire became one of the first local government organisations in Victoria to declare a climate emergency.

As part of our response, we worked with key stakeholders to develop a climate emergency strategic action plan, which outlines six priority areas for action.

Adopted by Council in September 2020, the key actions are:

• Read or download the action plan

2. Towards certified NET ZERO

Central to Council’s climate emergency response is to demonstrate strong leadership within our communities by reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from Council’s activities and services.

Accordingly, Indigo Shire Council has set a target to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2035, or earlier.

View or download Council's Towards Certified NET ZERO PDF brochure(PDF, 539KB)

What are Indigo Shire Council’s current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

In 2020, Council engaged Ndevr Environmental to help develop our Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP). This involved identifying how much GHG emissions council produces, where in the organisation they are produced (emissions profile) and identifying opportunities to reduce them (emissions reduction action plan). Using 2019/20 as the baseline year, Indigo Shire Council’s total GHG emissions were 6,366 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e). That’s equal to 48 tCO2-e for every full-time council employee.

How is Indigo Shire Council going to achieve net zero?

Indigo Shire Council calculated its total GHG emissions in 2019/20 for the first time, and this is our baseline from which we will measure the impact of a broad range of strategic actions. These include sustainable procurement of goods and services, lighting upgrades, purchasing renewable energy and electric vehicles, and driving behaviour change. Council will continue to measure and report on our GHG emissions, and emissions that we can’t eliminate will be offset in order to achieve certified net zero.

How does Indigo Shire Council produce GHG emissions?

Council produces GHG emissions right across the organisation – from electricity used in Council buildings, fuel used in council fleet and trucks, and emissions produced by Council’s contractors.

Council’s GHG emissions profile has been defined in consultation with Ndevr Environmental, in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and Australian Government Climate Active Organisational Standard. Our emissions profile includes Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

Indigo Shire Council’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions add up to 6,366 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, with Scope 3 emissions making up the largest proportion (75%) of our emissions profile.

Looking more closely at Scope 3 emissions, we see the largest proportion coming from purchased goods and services, particularly the contractors that Council engages for a broad ranges of services. Other large components of our Scope 3 emissions include Council buildings leased to community groups, fuel extraction associated with Buller Gas, and street lighting.

What has Indigo Shire Council done so far to reduce its GHG emissions?

Indigo Shire Council has been undertaking energy efficiency and GHG emissions reduction measures for many years, including:

• Solar power installations on at least 18 Council and community buildings, with a combined 135kW capacity
• Energy efficient lighting upgrades of Council streetlights, buildings and facilities
• Purchase of two electric vehicles
• Upgrading climate control systems in Council buildings to energy efficient models that use less harmful refrigerant gases
• Insulating and draught-proofing Council buildings
• Undertaking sustainability training for Council staff.

How is Indigo Shire Council going to achieve net zero?

Indigo Shire Council will achieve net zero through undertaking a range of actions across the organisation, as identified in our Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP), including:

• Purchasing of 100% renewable energy for Council buildings through the Victorian Electricity Collaboration (VECO) via Red Energy. This started 1st July 2021, and applies to around 20% of Council’s total GHG emissions
• Sustainable procurement - strengthening environmental sustainability measures in Council’s procurement policy and procedures. Contracted goods and services account for over half of Council’s emissions
• Capturing, tracking and reporting on our GHG emissions using the Trellis carbon accounting platform, and using this knowledge to scope, implement and evaluate emissions reduction actions
• Reviewing our ERP annually to evaluate progress and ensure new technologies and opportunities are being considered.

What happens if Indigo Shire Council doesn’t achieve net zero by 2035?

• Carbon offsets will be purchased for the GHG emissions that Council, despite its best efforts, can’t eliminate. Net zero is achieved through balancing a measured amount of GHG emissions released, with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset. Offsets must be purchased every year and represent a continuing investment
• If no further action is taken by Council to reduce emissions (this precludes VECO), carbon offsets could cost approximately $146,000-$255,000 per annum (based on AUD2020 prices). The variance is explained by either local/national offsets (more expensive) vs international offsets (cheaper)
• Council also recognises the cumulative effect of higher GHG emissions, year after year. One alternative to steadily reducing emissions is simply to purchase carbon offsets immediately. International and national carbon credits are expected to increase in price in future years, presenting a financial risk to council in the achievement of its target without a strong focus on emissions reduction.

Will Indigo Shire Council be certified carbon neutral?

• YES. Indigo Shire Council’s emissions profile has been established in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and Australian Government Climate Active Organisational Standard. Emissions categories (and associated emissions sources) follow the GHG Protocol framework.
• Indigo Shire Council can also take its net zero target further and seek carbon neutral certification through the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program by applying to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources (DISER). This incurs annual certification fees and additional periodic auditing requirements. Certified organisations can use the Climate Active Certification Trademark, providing a credible stamp of approval for environmental stewardship. 

3. Greenhouse alliance

Indigo Shire Council is also an active  participant  and  member  of  the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance (GMCA) and has signed up to TAKE2. The GMCA is a collaboration of local governments and state government agencies, working on projects to collectively act on climate change.

Visit the GMCA website for more information.

4. Renewable energy, solar power and batteries

We encourage and support our residents to explore opportunities to use the power of the sun to generate renewable energy. Producing  your  own  renewable  energy  by  installing  solar  photovoltaic  (PV)  panels  is  a  great  way  to  reduce  your  electricity  bills  and  carbon  footprint. 

In a typical home with solar panels, part or all of your energy usage may be met by solar generation while the sun is shining. Any excess solar energy is exported to the grid. Shortfalls, most often experienced in the evening and overnight, are met by importing electricity from the grid. 

Don’t know where to start with solar panels, batteries or solar hot water? Check out the State Government’s buyers guides, as well as information about available rebates at https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/.

You can take it one step further by adding a battery. When you add a battery to a rooftop solar system or install a battery and rooftop solar panels together in a new system, the excess solar energy not used at home during the day is used to charge the battery.  There are various battery storage products available that have a wide range of functionality and performance.

5. Community action on renewables

Indigo Shire is home to active community renewable energy groups, including Totally Renewable Yackandandah, Totally Renewable Beechworth and Totally Renewable Indigo North. Contact these groups for more information if you are interested in getting involved.