Climate Change

There is now widespread agreement among the international scientific community that the earth is warming due to the greenhouse effect. Global warming or climate change is a natural phenomenon that has been accelerated by human activities through increasing the levels of 'greenhouse gases' in our atmosphere.

What causes climate change?

Climate change is caused by an increase in the greeenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases absorb heat leaving the earth and return some of it, making the earth warmer overall.

What activities produce greenhouse gases?

Burning fossil fuels - coal, oil or gas
Using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels
Clearing land
Breakdown of food and plant wastes and sewage

The main greenhouse gases generated by human activity are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, as well as some manufactured gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and some of their replacements.

Water vapour is also a powerful greenhouse gas, but the amount in the atmosphere is not directly linked to human activity.

What are the effects of Climate Change?

On average, the Earth is warming. Its temperature has already risen by around 0.7ºC over the past hundred years, and may rise by between 1/4 and 5.8ºC this century.
Sea levels are rising as oceans expand and glaciers and ice sheets melt.
Changes in weather patterns, such as more severe droughts, heat waves,floods and storms; changes in rainfall patterns; and higher likelihood of bushfires.
Adverse impacts on plants, animals and human health as climate patterns shift.

For more information visit the Department of Climate Change.

What is Holroyd Council doing about climate change?

Holroyd Council takes the issue of climate change seriously and has implemented a number of programs to reduce greenhouse emissions across a range of activities, in addition to facilitating the community to reduce their greenhouse emissions. For more information on these programs click on the links below.

Energy Savings Action Plan

In 2005 the NSW State Government introduced the Energy Administration Amendment (Water and Energy Savings) Act which required Council to prepare an Energy Savings Action Plan for Council's top 10 energy consuming facilities.

Facilities included in Council's Energy Savings Action Plan are:

Administration Building
Merrylands Library
Merrylands Pool
Wentworthville Pool
Guildford Pool
Central Gardens
Council's Depot
Merrylands Community Centre & Holroyd Centre
Wentworthville Library
Wentworthville Community Centre

This plan reviewed the amount of energy used by Council at the above facilities and created a list of over 50 specific actions designed to minimise Council's electricity and gas consumption at these facilities. This plan was then submitted to the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water for approval, which was attained on 10 July 2007. The Energy Savings Action Plan built on the policy framework outlined by the Greenhouse Reduction Local Action Plan. The Energy Savings Action Plan sets firm targets for Council's top ten energy consuming facilities.

In the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years, Council outlaid $62,896 of $1,862,603 of projects identified to implement actions identified in the Energy Savings Action Plan resulting in an estimated reduction of Council's energy consumption by 308,035 kWh p/a and eCO2 emissions by 283 tonnes p/a and saving $19,470 in annual energy bills. Further it is estimated that in 2008/2009, Council will implement actions to the value of $89,707 resulting an estimated reduction of Council's energy consumption by 57,995 035 kWh p/a and eCO2 emissions by 57 tonnes p/a and saving $5,238 in annual energy bills.

What is the Holroyd community's view on climate change?

In November 2008, Holroyd City Council partnered with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, 16 other local Councils from across NSW and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change to record the community's views on climate change. This was achieved through a series of Climate Consensus Workshops held throughout the participating local government areas.

An invitation to participate in Holroyd's Climate Consensus Workshops was sent to a randomly selected 2,000 residents. From this Council received 80 responses and a stratified random selection process was used to select 20 demographically representative residents.

Throughout the two day workshop, these residents listened to guest speakers provide information on various aspects of climate change and developed recommendations for action at an individual level, and by local government, state government and the federal government.

These recommendations were compiled with recommendations from the other participating local government areas and presented to the NSW Government at the NSW Climate Change Summit in February 2009 to provide input into the development of the NSW Climate Change Action Plan.

A copy of the report given to the NSW Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt is available at NSW Climate Summit.

What can you do about climate change?

Australian households spend $1,500 on average on energy bills each year.

90% of that energy comes from fossil fuels such as coal this creates greenhouse gas pollution and causes global warming and climate change. One tonne of greenhouse gas would fill a family home and on average Australian households produce eight tonnes of greenhouse gas every year.

Studies show that the way we go about our everyday activities accounts for up to 40% of energy consumption at home. For easy ways to save energy (and money!) at home check out Saving Energy.

Dont forget the NSW Government and Federal Government has rebates available to help householders to replace electric hot water systems, install ceiling insulation and rainwater tanks. Read Government Rebates for more information.