In 2021, Council adopted its corporate Climate Action Plan 2021-2024 and Climate Action Position Statement. These two key strategic documents outline the actions Council will take to reduce its corporate greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a path for Council to achieve its goal of becoming net-zero by July 2023.

This Climate Action Plan addresses climate change mitigation (i.e. emissions reduction), and is the beginning of a longer-term strategy that will address Council's climate change adaptation strategy, as well as community mitigation and adaptation.

Council's emissions baseline provides a reference point against which its greenhouse gas emissions will be measured over time. This allows us to measure change in our emissions resulting from climate action and sustainability initiatives.

The emissions baseline for Council's operations was calculated using data from the 2018/19 Financial Year, and measured at 2,384 tonnes CO2 equivalent (t CO2-e).

Council's emissions baseline informed key emissions reduction opportunity areas and actions in our Climate Action Plan 2021-2024.

Council’s climate change response involves a continuous improvement process that is adaptive and responsive to changing needs. This process ensures that the targets we set, and means to achieve them, are environmentally, financially and socially sustainable - both now and into the future – as technology, attitudes, best practice, legislation and climate science evolve.

Since implementing its corporate Climate Action Plan 2021-2024, Council has undertaken a range of initiatives to reduce emissions and achieve our net-zero target. Some of these include:

• Meeting all of Council’s electricity needs with 100% renewable power as part of the Victorian Energy Collaboration Power Purchase Agreement (VECO PPA). Council signed onto the PPA in 2021, which has allowed us to reduce our emissions by nearly 1600 t CO2-e annually.
• Installing solar PV and batteries across 12 Council-owned and operated facilities, generating 13% of Council's total electricity needs. Council is exploring the potential to expand its existing solar capacity.
• Upgrading streetlights from energy-intensive mercury vapour lights to highly efficient LED lights, which has significantly reduced Council's electricity consumption.
• Upgrading Council's fleet with 3 electric vehicles (EV) and several hybrid vehicles, and installing EV charging infrastructure at Council's Bright office.
• Conducting energy efficiency upgrades and retrofitting of inefficient appliances at Council facilities.
• Purchasing carbon credits from Greenfleet to offset Council's 2022/23 residual emissions, and investigating options to offset Council's 2023/24 residual emissions within Alpine Shire boundaries.

In addition to the initiatives targeted in Council's Climate Action Plan 2021-2024, various other sustainability initiatives are also in development, including:

• Trees and Open Spaces - Council sees the tremendous value that our green spaces provide to residents and visitors to the region. Council’s approach to open space and tree management and protection can be found on the Council's Trees and Open Spaces webpage.
• Sustainable Procurement - Council considers environmental sustainability in all procurement decisions, as required under Council’s procurement policy.
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan - A Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan will be developed to address the threats of a changing climate to Council’s assets and operations, community townships and the municipality as a whole.
• Electrifying Council - In addition to end-of-life replacement of inefficient appliances and mechanical plant at Council-owned facilities, Council is now distributing development guidelines that include replacement of any gas reliant appliances with electrical, to support a move towards a fully electrified Council.
• ESD Guidelines and Energy Efficient Buildings - Council is currently developing Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) guidelines for Council buildings and facilities, both new builds and renovations, to ensure best practice ESD.
• Capping Closed Landfill - Capping has been completed for closed landfill sites at Porepunkah and Myrtleford, to reduce uncontrolled methane emissions and water infiltration that could lead to groundwater pollution.
• Encouraging Active Transport Choices - Council has undertaken several measures to encourage cycling and walking for short trips to and between Council facilities, including access to showers, bicycle storage and awareness of safe off-road paths.
• Tourism and Event Waste - While both tourism and events contribute to the economy, vibrance and diversity of our region, the influx of visitors also generates significant amounts of waste. Council’s Waste Wise Guide provides advice for event organisers on how to minimise waste at events.

To bolster resources and maximise our climate action impact, Alpine Shire Council collaborates with other Local Government Authorities throughout Australia. This includes:

• Cities Power Partnership - Australia’s largest local government climate network that collaborates to accelerate climate action.
• Goulbourn Murray Climate Alliance - a partnership between 17 local government, catchment management, state government, & alpine resort agencies across the Goulburn and Upper Murray regions that collaborates on carbon reduction projects, research and advocacy.