This draft Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2027 (CCAAP) supersedes the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2017-2021.
The CCAAP provides a framework and a co-ordinated approach for council’s operations to incorporate the impacts of climate change on its operations.
Local governments are facing increasing climate impacts and duty of care to consider climate risk. Victoria’s Climate Change Act 2017 states that decision makers must have regards for climate change. Climate change is a growing community concern and is already impacting on the council’s service delivery and asset management programs.
The Victorian State Government has released its Climate Change Strategy which is a roadmap to net-zero emissions and a climate resilient Victoria by 2050. This roadmap has guided this rewrite of CCAAP 2022-2027.
CSIRO climate data indicates Wodonga will experience a warmer climate, higher incidence of rainfall through storms (increasing the risk of flooding) and reduced annual rainfall. Wodonga Council is responding to these projections utilising the afore-mentioned legislation and documents.
Identifying climate risks and adaptation actions helps organisations and communities to take informed action to respond to climate change. This plan outlines what actions Wodonga Council will make and opportunities for community to support adaptation efforts. Actions are measurable and will be reported to the council and the community annually.
The plan demonstrates council’s actions to be better prepared for the changing climate. This presents an opportunity to reduce the vulnerability of council’s assets and services, while empowering our community to be healthy, connected, and resilient.
An evidence-based approach has informed the development of the CCAAP by prioritising actions based on climate risks and opportunities specific to our local region.
The CCAAP has been developed with community feedback and is aimed to be implemented in partnership.
The council is now seeking feedback on the draft CCAP from the community.