Climate Emergency Program
On 27 March 2019 Bellingen Shire Council declared a climate emergency. The declaration recognises that our Shire is being affected by climate impacts, particularly increasing sea level rise, bushfires, heat waves, severe storms, drought and floods and serves as a call to take urgent action in rapidly reducing our carbon emissions and responding to the threat of climate change.
As part of the declaration Council prepared and adopted three key documents.
Climate Emergency Response Framework
Our Climate Emergency Response Framework provides the context for the climate emergency and Council’s overall vision and approach to the crisis.
Read the Climate Emergency Response Framework(PDF, 2MB)
Corporate Carbon Plan
Our Corporate Carbon Plan sets ambitious targets including:
- 100% renewable energy by 2030
- 45% emissions reduction by 2030 (based on 2009/10 levels)
- Net zero emissions by 2040,
and provides a framework of how Council will achieve these targets.
Council's original Corporate Carbon Plan(PDF, 3MB) was adopted in 2019. Since then Council has achieved its 2030 emission reduction target five years ahead of schedule. In the 2024/25 financial year Council achieved a 58% reduction in fuel and electricity emissions compared to its baseline year of 2009/10. Council has now adopted an updated Corporate Carbon Plan 2025-2030(PDF, 10MB) outlining further opportunities to reduce emissions.
In 2024 Council was recognised for its significant achievements in action on climate change by being awarded the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Award (Population Category B) at the 2024 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards.
Community Climate Action Plan
Our Community Climate Action Plan maps out Shire-wide initiatives taking place to reduce the community’s emissions and adapt to climate change.
Read the Community Climate Action Plan(PDF, 2MB)